San Luis Coastal Education Foundation — Supporting Education and Developing Next Generation Talent

Developing today’s talent for tomorrow’s jobs is a tall task, and one that can’t be tackled alone. That’s where community plays a significant role in the San Luis Obispo county region. The San Luis Coastal Education Foundation (SLCEF), started just four years ago, has already grown into a key player in ensuring that the San Luis Coastal education community is going above and beyond to prepare students to be active contributors to the local and regional economy.

SLCEF began as a result of the Diablo Canyon Power Plant closure settlement that included the establishment of a $10 million endowment to the San Luis Coastal Unified School District to create and expand a local education foundation. The Foundation’s mission is to “provide resources and opportunities for excellence in teaching, promote innovation in learning, and partner with the community to enhance the quality of education for all students.”

“It is about economic mobility, making sure that we are setting every kid up for success so they can compete and be healthy contributing members of our community,” said Christine Robertson, SLCEF’s Executive Director. “We are building next generation talent for next generation jobs. Whether you have kids in our schools or not, our schools are extremely relevant. And if we get it right, it will help us realize opportunity and prosperity in a much deeper and equitable way.”

The Foundation is a robust, yet very lean organization. Robertson is the only staff member, but works with a dedicated volunteer board of 20 SLCUSD parents, alumni, current and retired district staff, and a diverse array of local business and community leaders. Robertson says the Foundation is deeply connected to and integrated with the District and part of its role is to give K-12 education a seat at the table regarding issues that impact the economic vitality of the region.

“We care deeply about what happens with our kids when they are with us and when they leave our system. We want them to be well-positioned to help this community thrive – that means we invest in them in ways that help provide a sense of social responsibility and an ability to identify needs and problems, coupled with the skills to develop solutions to help our amazing community move forward.”

For example, the Foundation recently invited 50 students (starting in 7th grade) to participate in a pilot program. These students, who may not have the financial means to pay for certain outside resources like the Advanced Placement exam or outside tutoring in a subject area, are provided with a $1,000 secondary scholarship. The students can apply the funding to any resources that can help them reach their goal while they are in the District. The Foundation is taking on 100% of the cost, and is also hiring a family liaison/counselor to work directly with families.

iINNOVATE Initiative

The Foundation participates in many capital investments – probably the most notable is the iINNOVATE Initiative that provides equitable access to innovation labs at every elementary school in the District. SLCEF made a $1 million investment to provide all elementary schools with the base level of resources that each school needs to get these labs up and running.

“Everything we do is because of our community’s support and investment in our kids. We invest in students and hopefully they will invest their time, talent and treasure back into our community when that time comes.”

To donate or learn more about the San Luis Coastal Education Foundation, go to: https://www.slcef.org/