The Wallace Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York recently approved new philanthropic support for Learning Forward.
The Wallace Foundation’s board approved a two-year grant to enable Learning Forward to continue in its ongoing role as a communications partner. Since 2010, Learning Forward (then NSDC) has helped the foundation share knowledge, research, and resources aligned to its educational leadership and social and emotional learning initiatives.

The grant will provide Learning Forward with resources to showcase Wallace research and knowledge via our Annual Conference, publications, social media, and various learning events. The foundation is also supporting Learning Forward’s efforts to transition in-person learning experiences to a virtual format.

As part of the grant, Frederick Brown, Learning Forward’s chief learning officer, will serve as a liaison to the foundation’s various learning communities, including one linked to the Wallace University Principal Preparation Initiative. Elizabeth Foster, Learning Forward’s vice president, research & standards, will serve as liaison to the foundation’s various social emotional learning activities.

The Carnegie Corporation of New York has committed two years of funding to support Learning Forward’s revision of the Standards for Professional Learning. The multiyear undertaking to revise the standards will include planning with the input of advisors representing more than 40 partner organizations and districts, development of revised standards and associated implementation and assessment tools, and dissemination and policy outreach.

The Carnegie Corporation supports Learning Forward’s efforts to build the capacity of educators through the What Matters Now Network, a learning network grounded in improvement science. State coalitions in Maryland, Ohio, and Rhode Island use learning cycles to test and improve learning innovations on implementing high-quality instructional materials.

The Carnegie Corporation also supports Learning Forward’s work to develop content-based coaching programs.