Funders

Trust for Learning’s philanthropic partners contribute at varying levels to our shared mission: ideal learning environments for every child from birth through age eight.

In addition to investment in movement-building, head start, policy change, networks of practice, and equitable educator pathways, we hope to serve as a hub for resources on equity in early childhood and the expansion of ideal learning environments in the public sector.

Case studies and resources for the field

In 2013, Trust for Learning convened a national group of Montessori leaders to envision an “unconstrained future” for the expansion of Montessori in the United States. Seven years later the Montessori Leaders Collaborative has launched a number of initiatives and is shifting toward a greater focus on social justice, equity, and access.

In 2015, Trust for Learning further expanded our convening approach to unite a handful of progressive, whole-child early childhood approaches in a common effort to serve more children. The Ideal Learning Roundtable now includes eleven approaches spanning home-based, center-based, and school-based ideal learning.

In 2017, we supported the launch of New Haven ChILD, the country’s first Ideal Learning district. In New Haven, community leaders are making the ideal real for all children.

In 2017, we commissioned national research on what parents want for their children in their own words. These valuable findings and associated tools can help strengthen the case for developmental, whole-child learning environments anywhere in the country.

In 2019, we supported the launch of the Ideal Learning Head Start Network, a growing national body of ideal learning Head Start providers.

In 2020, we supported and co-wrote a new report on the educator pathways affiliated with eleven ideal learning approaches, examining equity considerations and opportunities to scale within or across them. Please read and share!