OC Business Journal

Advancing Student Opportunities For Tomorrow’s Workforce

Orange County is one of the fastest growing and most diverse business sectors in the United States, creating a high demand for skilled and dynamic talent to support its growth. Irvine Public Schools Foundation (IPSF) continues to build bridges between academic and business communities to create opportunities for students to gain the skills, confidence, and passion required to be successful in today’s competitive STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Mathematics) workforce.

For over 25 years, IPSF’s mission to provide programs, raise funds, and unite the community in support of educational excellence has resulted in tremendous impact in the quality and equity in public schools through more than $95 million in grants and programs provided to benefit students. What started as a group of concerned parents wanting the best schools for their children has now evolved into one of the leading education foundations in the nation.

Fueling Innovation

Making schools centers of innovation can only be achieved if teachers have opportunities to bring revolutionary learning opportunities to life. IPSF has awarded over $2 million through its

Innovative Grants Program to support innovation in schools, launch new curriculum, and improve students’ educational experiences. In the last five years, the Innovative Grants Program has awarded grant funding to 90% of Irvine Unified K-12 schools, benefiting thousands of students.

“In order to prepare students for the future, we must provide them with hands-on experiences and skills that they can apply to real world situations,” explains Neda Eaton, President & CEO of Irvine Public Schools Foundation. “We are proud to support educators who are passionate about elevating student learning far beyond standard academic curriculum.”

Thanks to innovation grants funded by IPSF, Irvine students have learned advanced principles of physics by constructing electric guitars, solved cold cases through forensic science, supported students in crisis with peer-to-peer suicide prevention programs, and built nano-satellites that were launched into space on NASA rockets. When you give students and teachers opportunities to collaborate, learn, and explore, the possibilities are limitless.

Ensuring Access to Opportunities

Through afterschool and summer enrichment programs, IPSF encourages students to explore their interests and discover new passions. With courses including coding, robotics, theater, debate, and entrepreneurship, students apply what they learn during the school day in new ways, while also collaborating with students outside of their traditional classes. By nurturing the spark of curiosity within each child, students are empowered to grow and discover their own unique gifts, talents, and passions.

IPSF’s commitment to high-quality educational enrichment for every child includes scholarships for families with financial need. The organization believes that all students should be able to participate in a variety of STEAM courses, regardless of their ability to pay. Generous contributions from leading corporate partners like

Kia Motors America, FUTEK, Google, and UPS help ensure that all students have access to opportunities that will educate, engage, and inspire the future leaders of our community.

Connecting Education and Industry

Early exposure to real-world application of academic study has proven to be a successful formula for inspiring more interest in STEAM-related fields and majors. IPSF has remained steadfast in its commitment to STEAM education to empower K-12 students to be curious learners who seek creative solutions to problems, and in the process develop the soft and hard skills necessary to succeed in college and future careers. Long-term investment in STEAM through initiatives including Ask a Scientist Night, OC STEAM Fest, Irvine CubeSat STEM Program, Career Technical Education Engineering Pathway, and Science Fair, puts Irvine students ahead of the curve. These investments are making an impact, with Irvine students consistently outperforming their peers in these subjects. In 2021 Advanced Placement (AP) testing, Irvine students scored on average 30% higher in science disciplines and 25% higher in art disciplines than students across California. Through robust partnerships, IPSF continues to explore new approaches to inspire student interest in STEAM careers by collaborating with educators on programs and events that bring together academic and corporate partners.

“With so many challenges facing students today, it is more important than ever that they have access to enrichment opportunities that inspire wonder and provide a creative outlet,” explains Javad Mokhbery, President & CEO, FUTEK. “Through our partnership with IPSF, we are able to positively impact students’ K-12 educational journeys, so they are prepared to meet the challenges of today and of the future.”

Stepping Up for Students

Known as the “City of Innovation,” Irvine embodies the traits of a successful tech hub city with outstanding K-12 schools and universities that provide a readily available workforce and a strong base of talent. From small businesses to global leaders, corporate supporters understand that educational excellence is crucial to maintaining Orange County’s position as a leader in innovation.

“What makes Irvine so special is how we as a community have remained committed to the principles of education and innovation established over 50 years ago,” says City of Irvine Mayor Farrah N. Khan. “The City is proud of its significant investment and partnership with IPSF to unite our business leaders, parents, and educators in support of educational excellence for our students. By working together as a community, we can prepare and nurture the next generation of leaders who will propel this region forward for years to come.” If you are interested in learning more about partnering with IPSF and becoming one of the Top 100 Corporate & Community Partners Supporting Educational Excellence, please contact President & CEO Neda Eaton at neaton@ipsf.net. To learn more about Irvine Public Schools Foundation, visit www.ipsf.net.

EDUCATION, TRAINING & ONLINE LEARNING

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2023-02-06T08:00:00.0000000Z

2023-02-06T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://ocbusinessjournal.pressreader.com/article/282836490229681

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