Reach for the Upside
An initiative to help Northern California public school communities
Reach for the Upside includes
31 school districts across 16 California counties
up to 442,000 underserved students, 66% BIPOC
collaboration among teachers, students, administrators and school communities
Reach for the Upside is an initiative funded by Genentech and the Genentech Foundation to help Northern California public school districts and their community partners navigate the constraints of the COVID-19 era and identify opportunities to advance student-centered learning, equity, and the well-being of students, teachers, and families in this time.
Through a two-month design sprint with the Stanford d.school’s K12 Lab, districts and their community partners developed and workshopped innovative ideas. The districts are now receiving funding and coaching support to pilot the ideas in their communities.
Design Teams and Pilot Topics
Click on the district name to learn more
Adding personalized learning strategies and mentors to connect with disengaged learners
Developing strategies to end intergenerational poverty
Increasing the number of teachers with similar ethnicities/experiences as their students
Creating accelerated pathways to good jobs in local industries
Rethinking special education for equity
Designing a systems approach to building equity into the educational system and the community
Developing career technical pathways for small rural high school districts
Developing a community-centered and multi-partner approach to helping unhoused students
Building regional capacity for maker career development in the Central Valley