Consistent with the Foundation’s mission and core values, the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation believes that children in North Carolina should have equitable, universal access to high quality public education that develops the full potential of each child. Access to high quality early childhood education and k-12 public education is a foundation block of democracy and is essential for the future economic sustainability, prosperity and ongoing vitality of our state and its communities. The Foundation further believes that children are best prepared to live, work and lead in our increasingly diverse state if schools are racially, ethnically and economically diverse and if schools value the individual experiences and contributions of each student.
Consequently, the Foundation supports efforts that: build the public will to support and strengthen North Carolina’s public systems of education, including early childhood education through high school*; build the capacity of these systems for continuous improvement; and advance educational equity.
Through this grantmaking strategy, the Foundation funds work that is focused on state-level systemic change.
*High school is intended to include dual-enrollment high school and college programs