Compass Collegiate Academy
An early stage, diverse-by-design, public charter school that will grow from 100 to 500 students over the next decade, CCA is part of a constellation of innovative schools (traditional public, public charter, private, public schools of innovation) that are taking action to create more educational opportunities in the North Charleston area. This investment highlights the additional capital needed from the community to support innovative school models for all students and helps tackle the real obstacles that education entrepreneurs face when launching new campuses across the state. SCCF's family of philanthropic investors have provided over $225,000 to this campus to-date, and the school is now in the midst of a $2M capital campaign to support its growth over the next decade.
Communities In Schools of South Carolina
Communities In Schools of South Carolina (CISSC) has served students across the state for more than 35 years. They bring community resources inside public schools, where they are accessible, coordinated, and accountable. Through their evidence-based model of Integrated Student Supports, school-based site coordinators assess each studentās unique needs and connect them to existing community resources so they can overcome barriers and focus on learning. From meeting immediate needs like food or clothing to more complex needs like counseling or social emotional support, CISSC works with students, caregivers, teachers, school administration, and community organizations to connect students to the supports, services, and resources they need to thrive. This investment will help strengthen its impact in communities like Fairfield County in the Midlands.
Legacy Early College
The largest K-12 public charter organization in Greenville, South Carolina will grow to serve over 2,500 students in the next five years. The organization has a track record of preparing and supporting African-American and Latino students to-and through college, often earning an associate's degree while in high school. Last year, the organization added a Pre-K center, which now makes them a four campus, PreK-12 organization serving over 1,500 scholars across Greenville. The organization is now building infrastructure needed to support upcoming rapid growth.
The Education Lab @ The Post and Courier
Created three years ago to shine a brighter spotlight on the state's education system, The Education Lab is now one of the leading solutions-journalism outfits covering education reform in the country. It serves as both a watchdog and flashlight on some of the most important issues facing the sector. When it launched in 2021, the newspaper announced "we believe there is power in partnering with corporations, nonprofits, and philanthropic foundations to engage our readers" and that "our news organization is uniquely positioned to report on education reform in a comprehensive and compelling manner, serving readers throughout the state and focusing on concrete solutions." In 2023, The Lab named five focus areas for the year: accountability of funds, accountability of leadership, access to preschool, actionable data that's accessible to the public, and the teaching profession. Today, SCCF is one of several community partners investing in the importance of an independent fourth estate focused on securing "equal access to a quality education for every child."
ExcelinEd
This specific investment will support ExcelinEd's ongoing work in South Carolina to transform education and equip all children for success. Focused within and outside of the traditional education system, ExcelinEd brings deep policy expertise to support state leaders throughout the Southeast region with customized policy solutions that close learning gaps, strengthen pathways and empower families with opportunity. ExcelinEdās work has been instrumental in supporting rising academic achievement in Florida, Mississippi and Indiana among other states. Their work includes state policy development and implementation in early literacy, math, school accountability, student-centered funding, college and career pathways, teacher retention and recruitment, and school choice programs.