CASHING IN: Newark Public Schools is getting $700,000 from Foundation for Newark’s Future (FNF), a nonprofit founded in 2010 as part of Mark Zuckberg's $100 million donation to the district. That's enough money, says Newark superintendent Chris Cerf (fresh from his previous gig at Amplify), for every district teacher to receive $100 to buy their own supplies.
But this isn’t a traditional grant. Instead of giving money to the district’s central office, the funds will make its way directly to educators through an online tool called ClassWallet. Teachers will each receive $100 in ClassWallet credit that can be spent on supplies sold by 40 partnering vendors, including Amazon, Scholastic and Best Buy. Principals will get $7,500 that can be spent on professional development, community initiatives and parenting programs.
This investment comes the same week that Facebook publicly announced its partnership with Summit Public Schools to develop technology to support personalized learning.
