Walton Family Foundation Gives $1.3 Million to Arkansas Public School Groups

The Walton Family Foundation is giving $1.3 million to two Arkansas education organizations, the nonprofit’s officers said Tuesday.

The Arkansas Advanced Initiative for Math and Science will receive $875,000 to continue growing the number of advanced placement classes available to low-income and minority populations.

The two-year grant will help the group increase enrollment in AP math, science and English courses, with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of qualifying scores on these exams.

The foundation has previously given AAIMS more than $2.9 million.

The second organization, Arkansas Tech University Center for Executive Leadership’s Leader-to-Leader program, will receive more than $450,000 to continue work in developing strong district and school leaders for Arkansas public schools.

The program promotes creative thinking and problem solving by Arkansas’ school administrators.  The foundation has supported the program with more than $2.5 million in grants since 2007.

Last year, the foundation invested more than $30 million in home region initiatives.

In a news release, Kathy Smith, senior program officer for the foundation’s Arkansas Education Reform initiative, said the state has made significant gains in education, and the foundation will continue to invest in programs that raise the academic bar.

“The economic well-being of our state depends upon the ability to create an environment where every child in Arkansas has access to a high-quality, publicly funded education,” she said. “We believe in preparing students for success with a quality education. When you do, academic expectations grow, graduation rates rise and the standard of living improves.”