Partners in Education
Partners in Education is the joint venture of the merging Palo Alto Foundation for Education (PAFE) and the All Schools Fund (ASF). All fundraising for both organizations will be conducted under the Partners in Education umbrella as the two groups negotiate their merger.

Partners in Education is not just a new name for the two organizations—it is a new, united approach to helping meet critical school needs through private fundraising. Working in close coordination with the Palo Alto Unified School District and parent leaders at all seventeen Palo Alto public schools, Partners in Education works to identify needs at all school levels and to raise funds from parents and other community members to help preserve treasured programs at Palo Alto public schools.

The difficult economic environment has forced the Palo Alto school district to cut more than $6.5 million from staff and programs since 2003. Without parent and community support for the Partners in Education effort as well as the likely upcoming parcel tax vote, the district will be forced to slash even more. And, as of the 2003-04 school year individual school site PTA’s can no longer raise money for staffing according to Palo Alto district policy.

Private fundraising is essential to support many of the staff, programs and materials we so value for our schools. Donations from parents and the community support classroom aides, science, library and music assistants, additional SPECTRA arts, reading specialists, teachers, staff development, academic and social support for all students, and the rich array of electives at Palo Alto secondary schools. The Partners in Education campaign will return funds to principals on a per student basis, elementary and secondary, so that each school’s most vital needs may be met.

The Palo Alto Foundation for Education (PAFE) has supported academic program within the Palo Alto Unified School District (PAUSD) since 1987. Its accomplishments range from a successful annual $100,000 teacher grants campaign to its recently completed $1,000,000 campaign to equip new science labs in Palo Alto’s two high schools. PAFE’s mission is to support excellence within the Palo Alto Unified School District by engaging private resources to fund critical needs not met by public sources. The Foundation collaborates with all segments of the community in addressing these needs across the district. PAFE celebrates the pursuit of excellence and innovation within the district by funding and honoring students, teachers, and schools. You can learn more about PAFE and its history by clicking www.pafe.org.