OTL
Network
Our public education system shapes both our leaders and our future. Investing in racial justice in our education system is one key strategy to get to a more just world. To support Black, brown and Native youth, parent and educator-led campaigns, Schott and partner funders invest in the OTL Network. These national and community-based leaders and organizations center their work on constituent demand and voices.
Achieving equitable outcomes for students of color requires sustaining community-based leadership and amplifying these voices in the public debate. OTL voices and organizations strengthen local and national civic infrastructures.
With the national Network’s support and resources, advocates address systemic inequalities and structural racism that prevent fair opportunities to learn and thrive. They address opportunity gaps and other barriers harming students, parents and educators.
Advocating for a vision of engaged learning and inspiring education; learning outcomes that ensure all children understand the world they are living in and are socio-emotionally and cognitively prepared to improve their lives, communities and humanity.
Schott Network investments focus on strengthening organizing capacity and infrastructure; convening networks and coalitions; linking ideas and values to policies and practices; and elevating the voices and narratives of those closest to the challenges and solutions.
The National Opportunity to Learn (OTL) Network is:
Through the National Opportunity to Learn (OTL) Network, Schott and our funder allies support national and local alliances of education justice partners in advocating for a vision of learning and education that is engaging, inspiring and can lead to the type of learning outcomes that ensure all children understand the world they are living in and are socio-emotionally and cognitively prepared to improve their lives, communities and humanity.
Grantee Partners
Organizations
Active Members
National Alliances
States + Washington, DC
Invest in the OTL Network
Schott’s programs and initiatives are supporting the forefront of the education justice movement. Talk with Lauren Hadi, our SVP of Advancement, to learn how you can partner with us in this work.
OTL Network Demographics
Racial Justice
IS Education Justice
Children of color thrive when their schools and communities have the support and resources needed for them to learn.
Schott saw a chance to nurture a movement greater than the sum of its parts. From the Network grew new nationwide grassroots groups like the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools and the Journey for Justice Alliance, which now have dozens of local chapters. Member organizations. like Grassroots Arkansas and the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance, build their agendas, strategies, and messaging based on what Network members have created.
From the Network grew new nationwide grassroots groups like the Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools and the Journey for Justice Alliance, which now have dozens of local chapters. Member organizations. like Grassroots Arkansas and the Massachusetts Education Justice Alliance, build their agendas, strategies, and messaging based on what Network members have created.
The OTL Network has been at the forefront of every major positive shift in public schooling for more than a decade.
- Trailblazing education funding campaigns.
- Kickstarting the school discipline reform movement.
- Establishing the community schools model as the future of the American schoolhouse.
How Do We Win Systemic Change?
Education justice philanthropy centers “on-the-ground” organizing, building the power of the people closest to the problem, so they can transform the systems and structures that generate and reinforce racial injustice. Racial justice grantmaking in education focuses on building student, parent and community power, building partnerships to advance racial equity and advancing policy change.
What is Our Role?
Through Schott’s investments in the OTL Network we are strengthening organizing capacity and infrastructure; convening networks and coalitions; linking ideas and values to policies and practices; and elevating the voices and narratives of those closest to the challenges and solutions.
Schott is uniquely positioned in this space as one of the nation’s only BIPOC-led national public funds serving as a bridge between philanthropic partners and education advocates.
By understanding what equity and social justice organizations need and how they operate, Schott can ensure longevity for the organizations sustaining our democracy.
Schott’s initiatives in grassroots movement building, cross-sector collaboration, and strengthening pro-public education narratives help raise the national consciousness around opportunity gaps as well as support grassroots victories for equitable education. We also ensure that our grantee partnes are at the table when it comes to big decisions, like we’ve done with the Loving Communities Response Fund.
We support efforts to turn visions of equity and justice into systems change that can affect millions of children and families. In addition to our grantmaking, we also provide ongoing trainings, convenings, and technical assistance to our grantee partners to they can make their visions a reality.
Movements are in it for the long haul. Their resources should be to. In addition to our commitment to general operating grants, we’re spearheading an effort to provide several movement organizations with endowments of their own. Learn more about our Endow Now initiative.
OTL Policy Commission
The Opportunity to Learn (OTL) Policy Commission serves as a national hub for the development and dissemination of progressive policies, tools and tactics and a platform for facilitating collaboration between grassroots leaders and key decision-makers.
<span data-metadata=""><span data-buffer="">For OTL Members
For new Schott grantees: learn more about the Network and how to get involved.
We can only do this with your help.
Donate to support these grassroots organizations today.