Kopelman Foundation

Educational Programs Background: The nation's school systems are serving our children poorly. In statewide tests, most Philadelphia high school students scored in the lowest quartile; nearly 50% drop out before graduation. Nationwide, the literacy level of young adults 15-21 dropped more than 11 points from 1984 to 1992, while spending has increased by more than 50%. Our Belief: Today's educational system was designed to prepare workers for the Industrial Age and has remained remarkably unchanged throughout the 20th century. The lesson of the past two decades is that we can not spend our way out of our educational problems. Society must take an entrepreneurial approach towards reinventing education. Our Focus: The Kopelman Foundation makes grants to both formal and informal educational projects that focus on children (as opposed to adults or continuing education); disadvantaged or "at risk" children; ways in which the use of technology can improve teaching and learning; programs that emphasize problem solving, self-initiative, or entrepreneurship; and educational practices versus educational research.