Schott Foundation for Public Education is a grantmaking and educational-advocacy organization that aims to address disparities amongst lower income students and students of color. The organization’s grantees are principally left-of-center groups.

Background

Schott Foundation for Public Education was co-founded by mother and son, Lilo Leeds and Greg Jobin-Leeds, in 1991. It is named for Lilo Leeds’ parents, Caroline and Sigmund Schott, who immigrated to United States from Germany just prior to World War II. Initially, Greg Jobin-Leeds served as the organization’s president and CEO. In June 1999, the organization was established as a tax-exempt public charity organization in Cambridge Massachusetts. ^{1 2}

Loving Communities Response Fund for Racial Justice

In collaboration with the Alliance for Educational Justice, Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools, Dignity in Schools Campaign, and Journey for Justice Alliance, the Schott Foundation for Public Education administers the Loving Communities Response Fund for Racial Justice, which provides financial and technical support to critical race theory-aligned initiatives that, among other things, seek to reduce the presence of law enforcement officers at schools and hire dedicated staff. ³

Racial Equity Stimulus

Schott Foundation for Public Education (particularly its president and CEO John H. Jackson) advocates for a federal-level stimulus program ranging from $10-$12 trillion dollars, which, among other things, would disburse grants to public K-12 schools, subsidize community college tuition for Black individuals, fund historically Black colleges, and support homeownership. ⁴

Grantees

Schott Foundation for Public Education largely makes grants in connection with five issue areas: “high quality early education,” “fair and just school resources,” “wraparound student supports,” “teaching quality supports,” and “fair and just school climate.” Notable national organizations, many of which are progressive or left-of-center that have received grants from the foundation include the Alliance for Educational Justice, the Economic Policy Institute, the Interaction Institute for Social Change, National Black Women’s Justice Institute, People’s Action Institute, National Public Education Support Fund, and the Journey for Justice Alliance. ⁵

People

John H. Jackson is the president and CEO of the Schott Foundation for Public Education.  Previously, Jackson was the national director of education and chief policy officer of the NAACP from 2000 to 2007. Before that, in 1999, Jackson was a senior policy advisor to the Office for Civil Rights in the U.S. Department of Education during the Clinton Administration. Additionally, Jackson has taught as an adjunct professor of race, gender, and public policy at the Georgetown Public Policy Institute, and conducted research at the Harvard Civil Rights Project. ⁶

Jackson served on the transition team for the presidency of President Barack Obama, as a member of his Education Policy Transition Work Group. Nonprofit boards on which Jackson has served include the Xavier University of Louisiana board of directors, Nellie Mae Education Foundation board of directors, Harvard University board of alumni, Association of Black Founders board of executives, and the American Bar Association’s at-risk commission. ⁷

1. “History.” Schott Foundation for Public Education. Accessed May 16, 2022. http://schottfoundation.org/about/who-we-are/history
2. “THE SCHOTT FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION.” ProPublica. Accessed May 16, 2022. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/43457065
3. “Loving Communities Response Fund for Racial Justice.” Schott Foundation for Public Education. Accessed May 16, 2022. http://schottfoundation.org/loving-communities-response-fund
4. “Racial Equity Stimulus.” Schott Foundation for Public Education. Accessed May 16, 2022. http://schottfoundation.org/stimulus
5. “Grantmaking.” Schott Foundation for Public Education. Accessed May 16, 2022. http://schottfoundation.org/our-work/grantmaking
6. “John H. Jackson.” Schott Foundation for Public Education. Accessed May 16, 2022. http://schottfoundation.org/about/who-we-are/staff/president
7. “John H. Jackson.” Schott Foundation for Public Education. Accessed May 16, 2022. http://schottfoundation.org/about/who-we-are/staff/president