WHAT’S NEXT The HQSF is an example of how strategic philanthropy can catalyze new approaches in public education. It provided valuable lessons about how bold ideas, leadership support, and targeted investment can be combined to improve teaching and learning while advancing equity. Robin Hood is now building on those lessons to deepen and scale impact across New York City’s public schools. g Expanding leadership development through Relay: The HQSF reinforced that empowered, well-supported school leaders are the most consistent drivers of school improvement. That insight is now guiding Robin Hood’s significant investment in education leadership: a three-year, up to $15 million partnership with Relay Graduate School of Education to build instructional leadership across all 32 NYC community school districts (K-8). The model builds on what worked in HQSF’s Next Generation Community Schools pilot—embedded coaching, data-informed walk-throughs, and aligned professional development — and applies it at citywide scale. g Shaping the city’s literacy ecosystem: HQSF investments — both in charter schools and district redesign — tested ways to strengthen academic infrastructure, including high-quality literacy instruction, targeted tutoring, and family engagement strategies. That work informs Robin Hood’s investment in NYC Reads, a public-private initiative supporting professional learning, coaching, and implementation management across NYCPS. The aim is a well-defined, sustainable system that helps every student become a confident, capable reader.
g Advancing policy and sustainability: The Next Generation Community Schools pilot demonstrated that layering instructional support and academic alignment onto the community school model leads to stronger outcomes. Robin Hood is now working to secure public investment in these enhancements so that instructional leadership, enrichment programming, and meaningful family engagement are not just pilot features but essential components of all community schools. g Fueling continued charter innovation: The HQSF showed that midsized charter networks led by diverse, community-rooted leaders can launch responsive, equity-centered school models — when given time, flexibil- ity, and targeted support. Robin Hood will continue to invest in new designs that meet these criteria, with a focus on schools that prioritize multilingual learners, students with disabilities, and overage or under-credited students. The HQSF allowed schools to test new strategies to strengthen instructional approaches and improve the experi- ences of students, educators, and families. In doing so, it created a foundation of lessons and models that will guide Robin Hood’s education strategy in the years ahead.
24 ROBIN HOOD HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOLS FUND REPORT
ROBIN HOOD HIGH-QUALITY SCHOOLS FUND REPORT 25
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