New National Leadership Partner, The Walmart Foundation

Citizen Schools is pleased to announce that the Walmart Foundation is our newest National Leadership Partner.  The Walmart Foundation will support high-quality programming that boosts students’ literacy and math skills and engagement in school. Over the next two years, the investment will help Citizen Schools expand and provide more students with a program that puts them on a path to academic and personal success.

”Spending extra time now to help students further develop literary and math skills not only raises grades and test scores, it helps them realize their full potential and achieve more than they may have thought possible — in and out of school,” said Michelle Gilliard, senior director of the Walmart Foundation. “In 2011 the Walmart Foundation donated more than $50 million to fund educational initiatives that make a difference in the lives of our nation’s children.”

Citizen Schools strives to provide students with the support and time to reach proficiency in English Language Arts (ELA) and math and improve student performance through academic support and mentoring. Citizen Schools’ partner school districts have released data from state standardized tests showing that a majority of partner schools have achieved positive gains in ELA and math with the expanded learning day model.

“We know that expanded learning time done right is an effective strategy for helping schools and students succeed,” said Eric Schwarz, co-founder and CEO of Citizen Schools. “The latest data that we are seeing in terms of the tremendous results at our partner schools confirms that the hard work we are doing every day in deep partnership with our committed school partners is working. With the additional investments of district and corporate partners, including our newest national leadership partner, the Walmart Foundation, we are poised to reach our long-term goal of closing the achievement and opportunity gaps for our students.”