ED in 08 | Strong American Schools: Making Education a Priority -- About Us

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Guided by the belief that every life has equal value, The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation works to reduce inequities and improve lives around the world.

In developing countries, it focuses on improving health, reducing extreme poverty, and increasing access to technology in public libraries.

In the United States, the foundation seeks to ensure that all people have access to a great education and to technology in public libraries. In its local region, it focuses on improving the lives of low-income families.

Based in Seattle, the foundation is led by CEO Patty Stonesifer and Co-chairs William H. Gates Sr., Bill Gates, and Melinda French Gates.

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In The News

05.2.07

Bush Pressing His Case on Renewal of NCLB (Education Week)

In the complicated politics of the No Child Left Behind Act, one thing hasn’t changed since Congress first passed the law: President Bush’s desire to get a bill passed.
04.30.07

Saved by the (Later) Bell (Boston Globe Magazine)

Ten schools in Massachusetts are testing a first-in-the-nation initiative to extend learning time.
04.27.07

Melinda Gates Calls for More Emphasis on Education (NPR | All Things Considered)

In an interview with NPR’s Robert Siegel, Melinda Gates said that Americans don't talk about the fact that one million students drop out of high school each school year.
04.27.07

The Future of Education Surveys show frustration among teachers, parents (San Francisco Chronicle)

At a time when California is short of qualified instructors, the problem of teacher attrition is largely preventable, says a new California State University study of more than 1,900 teachers.
04.26.07

Creating the Virtual Candidate (The Wealth Report | WSJ.com)

"Newspapers and TV were filled with the news this morning that billionaires Bill Gates and Eli Broad are spending $60 million to fund a candidate named Ed for the 2008 presidential election. Ed, it turns out, doesn’t exist. … If the campaign is successful, it could pave the way for a new kind of philanthropolitics, where the rich use their money to influence policy for the greater good — not for their own benefit.”
04.26.07

Taking the Candidates To School (Time.com)

"The future of this country is dependent on kids getting a great education, and not just kids in a certain social class but every kid," said Melinda Gates, in an interview with TIME.
04.26.07

Higher Graduation Rates in City, but ‘More Work to Do’ (New York Times)

Half of New York City’s high school students graduated on time in June 2006, up from 47 percent the year before, according to figures released yesterday by the New York State Education Department.
04.26.07

House passes bill to increase math and science teachers (CNN)

The House approved legislation Tuesday intended to boost the number of highly qualified math and science teachers in U.S. schools.
04.25.07

ED in 08 Radio and Print Ads Mark Campaign Launch

Strong American Schools started running radio and print ads in selected cities today to kick off the ED in 08 national campaign to make education a priority in the 2008 presidential election.

Listen.
04.25.07

Gates Foundation Takes on Education (ABC News)

Melinda Gates, a philanthropist and the wife of Microsoft founder Bill Gates, is kicking off a new campaign called Ed '08, which is designed to get presidential candidates to pay more attention to education.
04.25.07

Project Wants More Talk About Education (AP)

Philanthropists Bill Gates and Eli Broad are hoping their ''Strong American Schools'' project will goad the presidential candidates into taking bold stands on education even if it means angering their own constituencies.
04.25.07

Billionaires Start $60 Million Schools Effort (New York Times)

Eli Broad and Bill Gates are joining forces for a $60 million foray into politics in an effort to vault education high onto the agenda of the 2008 presidential race.
04.24.07

Nation’s Largest Multi-Million Dollar Single-Issue Presidential Advocacy Campaign to be Launched on the Eve of the First 2008 Primary Debate (SCHotline Press Releases Blog)

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and The Eli and Edythe Broad Foundation will launch an unprecedented, multi-million dollar, nonpartisan movement.
04.24.07

Huckabee says he is GOP’s best chance against Hillary Clinton (Arkansas News Bureau)

Mike Huckabee said Monday he was Republicans' best hope to beat Hillary Clinton in 2008 and he welcomed the chance to debate his record on education improvements compared to reforms she led in Arkansas.
04.24.07

Driscoll to seek $150m for teachers (The Boston Globe)

Education Commissioner David P. Driscoll will urge the state today to spend $150 million over several years to boost teacher training, licensing, and support as the system is losing teachers at high rates.
04.23.07

Tuned-In Schools Spur Less Dropouts (New York Post)

Efforts to keep kids in school are paying off with 24% fewer students dropping out before graduation.
04.23.07

Making Education A Top Issue For 2008 – Somehow (This Week in Education)

Announcing the April 24th pre-launch of ED in '08 headed by former Govenor Roy Romer.
04.23.07

Literacy Instruction (Education Week)

National Association of State Boards of Education's report on boosting literacy rates.
04.23.07

Strong American Schools (Whitney Tilson’s School Reform Blog)

Whitney Tilson writes about the launch of Strong American Schools' ED in '08 campaign.
04.23.07

Obama kicks off Wisconsin Campaign (The UWM Post)

Obama discusses education in Wisconsin.