San Diego-based National University on Tuesday announced the launch of the $30 million Sanford Education Collaborative, a nine-school partnership to expand programs focused on young students and teachers.
The goal of the collaborative is to bring two programs — Sanford Harmony, which strengthens social and emotional development in the youngest students, and Sanford Inspire, which helps teachers create better classroom experiences — to 2,000 schools. They are both available to teachers, schools and districts for free online.
The collaborative, which is advancing programs developed over the past 7 years by Arizona State University, is being paid for with a $20 million donation National University received last week and another $10 million in matching funds. Organizers said the two programs are expected to serve up to 50,000 teachers and reach more than 650,000 preschool through 12th grade students by the fifth year of operation.
Philanthropist T. Denny Sanford said the new programs will not only help students but society as a whole.
“In order to be successful adults, young people need to learn at an early age how to communicate, collaborate and get along with each other,” Sanford said.
Other colleges involved are the City University of Seattle, Long Island University, Nova Southeastern University in Florida, the University of South Dakota, South Dakota State University, the University of Central Florida, the University of Maine and Touro College of New York.
Universities were chosen because of their demonstrated effective clinical preparation, regional representation and institutional diversity, organizers of the collaborative said.
“We are so pleased to be welcoming this stellar team of universities to the Sanford Education Collaborative,” said Michael R. Cunningham, president of National University and chancellor of the National University System. “These universities have demonstrated their excellence in teacher preparation and we are excited to be collaborating with them in our shared mission of helping children build the foundation for a healthier and stronger society.”
National University was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in La Jolla.
