In 2016 there were 233 public schools in Washington, D.C. Late that year, a local foundation announced that it wanted to fund the creation of 25 “new or radically designed” schools across the city in the five years to come. It encouraged grant applicants to “fundamentally rethink” schools and design new academies that fellow educators would want to copy and expand enough to “radically transform education” in the nation’s capital. CityBridge Education, a foundation created by Katherine and David Bradley, will put $10-15 million into the effort. The first batch of winners got grants of up to $500,000 to found or remake a successful school. Those selected included six district-run public schools, nine charter schools, and one city center for youth services.
- CityBridge grant announcement, https://citybridge.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/BTS-R3-Press-Release-12.1.16.pdf