Building the Foundational Skills for Future Student Success
Aligned with our Strategy 2030, the foundation has committed more than $220 million in active grants to strengthen K-8 literacy and math outcomes nationwide, especially for students from low-income communities. These investments support high-quality instructional materials, teacher professional learning, effective implementation and innovative tools that can make learning more engaging and personalized while strengthening the teacher-student relationship.
The work is part of the Walton Family Foundation’s broader education strategy to help more young people thrive by strengthening classrooms, schools and systems. This builds on the foundation’s longstanding support for charter schools while also expanding pathways for young people, investing in leadership and advancing policy and narrative change.
Read our press release.
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“Creating better outcomes for young people requires partnership, innovation, and a willingness to rethink how we support students and families. This work reflects a shared commitment to ensuring every student has access to meaningful opportunities, strong support systems, and pathways that align with their goals and talents.” - Wes Moore, Governor of Maryland
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“The South Carolina Surge is growing as we do for math what we’ve done for reading — pairing high expectations with high support to deliver real results for students. Accelerate is living up to its name — helping us move faster to, equip and empower our hardworking teachers with the high-quality instructional materials, training, and coaching they need to deliver excellent, evidence-based instruction in their classrooms every day. When great teaching is supported and celebrated, Palmetto State students succeed.” - Ellen Weaver, South Carolina Superintendent of Education
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“Through the hard work of our students, families and teachers, Iowa’s young readers achieved an incredible 11 percentage point proficiency gain from third to fourth grade last year, and, now, Iowa is replicating these transformational structures in math. Our partnership focuses on empowering local leaders to strengthen implementation of the Literacy Changes Lives Act and the Math Counts Act, ensuring evidence-based instruction is a reality for every child in every Iowa classroom.” - McKenzie Snow, Director of the Iowa Department of Education
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“Improving student achievement takes more than good intentions — it takes implementation, accountability, and a commitment to what works. Louisiana has focused on evidence-based literacy instruction, tutoring support, and empowering educators and parents, and we’re already seeing meaningful progress for students across our state.” - Jeff Landry, Governor of Louisiana
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August 1, 2025At a Little Rock school, Magpie Literacy's virtual tools are helping young students master reading fundamentals. Meet the educators using sound, structure and smiles to build a strong foundation for lifelong learning. -
August 26, 2025Forty-three percent of Gen Z K–12 students say they rarely or never read for fun, and 35% say they actively dislike reading.
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Teacher Deidre Kelly turned viral TikTok math lessons into a tool helping students build confidence and engagement in math. -
Students are using the app “RightOn!” to build math skills by solving problems and learning in real time.
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June 25, 2025We asked teachers from across the country to share moments when their students moved and inspired them this school year. These reflections are reminders of why they chose this work—and how its impact reaches far beyond the classroom. -
June 25, 2025Recent studies predict that using AI could save teachers up to 24 hours a month. We asked teachers across the U.S. how they would use that time to better support students.
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NBC News explores how schools across America are rethinking education. -
Discover the nation’s largest survey on Gen Z’s education experience. -
May 30, 2023Expanding access to a high-quality education for a lifetime of opportunity.