Cracked Foundations: Tulare County Office of Education (CA)
Investigations
Granting foundation: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Total grants to Tulare County Office of Education: $8,217,939
US News and World Report Test Score Proficiency:
The Tulare County Office of Education (CA) received grants totaling $8,217,939 from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation since 2017 to participate in the California Central Valley Networked Improvement Community (CCVNIC) and the foundation’s Networks for School Improvement program.
The grant funding provides support to the County Office of Education (COE) to implement networked “aims,” “drivers,” and “changes” that include addressing “systemic racism,” “grading practices,” and “equity training.” Changes made by the COE to affect “adult mindsets and systemic bias” include revising grading policies to “Grading for Equity,” as well as integrating the framework into a district’s diversity, equity, and inclusion programming.
As part of the program, Tulare County contracted with consulting firm Hatching Results. The company states that it “teaches and empowers counselors, administrators, and other educators to use data to improve efficiency and effectiveness.” The organization also offers “Antiracist Professional Learning” as part of its curriculum. The professional development has participants “explore their values, bias, privilege, and how they are ‘showing up’ as an educator.”
Date: May 15, 2016
Grant amount: $1,986,019
Purpose: California Central Valley Networked Improvement Community (CVNIC)
Date: June 1, 2020
Grant Amount: $120,000
Purpose: Networks for School Improvement Planning Grant
Date: September 28, 2020
Grant amount: $6,111,920
Purpose: Networks for School Improvement
CONSULTANTS
Hatching Results LLC
National Equity Project
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