Our Mission & History
Oak Park Education Foundation supports additional people and programs to enhance educational experiences to keep our schools ranked among one of the best in California.
Who we are?
Oak Park Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides crucial financial support to all of the Oak Park Schools , filling the gap between state funding and the per-pupil cost of educating our kids. The importance of our foundation cannot be understated. For Oak Park Schools to sustain the high quality education that makes it one of California’s highest-performing school districts, we must significantly increase the funding through philanthropic gifts from parents and our community.
Why OPEF is important?
For years Oak Park residents have voted to fund the school through both bond measures for construction and renovation and parcel taxes for educational purposes. In 2016 the parcel tax renewal was defeated by 22 votes creating an immediate $1M shortfall in the school’s annual budget. This has been an instant need to raise contributed income through the foundation.
What is OPEF funding this school year?
Oak Park Unified School District (OPUSD) is one of California’s great public school success stories, described by alumni, parents, and educators as “world-class learning environment.” Small class sizes, innovative teaching, and life and career enrichment programs are some of Oak Parks attributes that allow our students to continuously outpace their peers.
This 2022/23 school year, OPEF is proud to be funding programs at all schools within the district. Our three elementary schools will be provided with a full school year music program that is lead by a music instructor. In addition, Medea Creek Middle School will be working with Upstage theater to present a musical production that is funded by OPEF. Along with these music and theater programs,
OPEF is also funding 100% the part-time high school Career Advisor position that works along with wonderful new full time counselor, Amanda Fitts. This part-time position will be assisting with career-oriented activities that will include the following:
-Career Chats (outside guest speakers from a wide variety of different industries/fields)
-Learn at Lunch Workshops (creation of resumes, cover letters, eNotes, LinkedIn Profiles, etc.)
-Part-time job opportunities, informational interviewing, internships, job shadowing
-Leveraging of career-oriented assessments, career technical education/enrichment courses