Frequently Asked Questions

What are the priority areas of interest for the Fund?
What is Deeper Learning?
How can I become a CEPF grantee?
How is the CEPF managed?
Who makes the final grant funding decisions?
How will potential conflicts of interest be addressed?
Who is providing support?
Are CEPF grantees eligible to apply for Hewlett Foundation grants? 
How will success be measured?

What are the priority areas of interest for the CEPF?
CEPF has a particular focus on supporting California’s commitment to college and career readiness in the K-12 system. Currently, CEPF is focused on supporting organizations advancing policy and practice reform to promote Deeper Learning in the K-12 system and/or alignment between the K-12 system and higher education.

CEPF is structured around the following set of shared policy goals, which the grantees work collectively to advance:

1. Defining and systematizing college and career readiness as the state’s K-12 education system goal;
2. Establishing comprehensive assessment systems to measure college and career readiness, including implementation of new SBAC assessment;
3. Anchoring the multiple state accountability systems with college and career readiness indicators; and
4. Developing seamless pathways between K-12 and postsecondary systems, using Common Core standards and SBAC

Imbedded in these goals is a commitment to promote educational equity to ensure Deeper Learning for all students.

What is Deeper Learning?
Deeper Learning refers to the set of higher-order skills that students will need to succeed in college, career and civic life. These competencies include: critical thinking and complex problem solving; communication; collaboration; self-directed learning; and academic mindsets—all applied to the mastery of rigorous academic content. While they have long been essential for educational and career success, today these skills are even more necessary with the rising demands of global commerce, politics and technology.

For more information on Deeper Learning, click here.

How can I become a CEPF grantee?
The CEPF is an invitation-only fund. Currently the fund is primarily focused on deepening its partnerships with current grantees. Please see the Program Details page for additional information.

How is the CEPF managed?
CEPF is managed as a sponsored project fund of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, a nonprofit with a proven track record in managing complex, multi-million dollar philanthropic projects focusing on a variety of donor interests including education, human services, arts, health and economic development. RPA has engaged Capitol Impact, LLC., a Sacramento-based education consulting firm with deep knowledge and expertise in statewide education reform, policy, strategy, research, and project management to provide management support to the Fund.  For more information, please visit the About Us page.

Who makes the final grant funding decisions?
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) is responsible and accountable for making all final grant funding decisions. A Grant Award Advisory Committee, comprised of leaders knowledgeable on education policy reform, the California education landscape and Deeper Learning, provides input and recommendations to RPA. The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation plays no role in determining which potential grantees are invited to submit proposals, grant award recipients nor grant award allocations.

How will potential conflicts of interest be addressed?
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, Capitol Impact and members of the Grant Award Advisory Committee acknowledge that conflicts of interest may arise from time to time during the decision-making process that determines which organizations are chosen to submit full proposals and which organizations ultimately receive grant awards. We have established a conflict of interest policy in order to protect and inform entities that may apply for funding from the California Education Policy Fund.

Who is providing support?
Since the inception of the CEPF, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation has provided annual support for the fund, covering grant awards and program management.

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is a leading funder of educational policy reform in California. The Fund builds on the Foundation’s long-term leadership and deep commitment to the State of California by supporting grantees that provide a consistent voice and serve as a catalyst for education policy reform. Since 2002, the Foundation has been a leader in supporting a diverse portfolio of partners that use state policy change as a lever to achieve the following goals: improving student achievement, increasing high school graduation rates, strengthening college readiness, and improving student success in community colleges. All of these efforts have been undertaken with the goal of pushing the state toward effectiveness in improving student achievement, especially for disadvantaged students.

While it’s likely that the Foundation will continue to provide ongoing annual support to the Fund in future years, additional resources will be needed in order to meet the long term goals of the Fund. Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) welcomes and encourages other donors to participate and provide funding to ensure that a larger pool of grantees can be supported and sustained over a significant period of time.

Are CEPF grantees eligible to apply for Hewlett Foundation grants?
CEPF grantees are eligible to apply for grants from The William & Flora Hewlett Foundation. However, the criteria for those grants are different and guidelines specific to those grant programs must be followed. Please visit the web page for the Foundation’s Education Program for more information.

How will success be measured?
CEPF grantees are monitored on an ongoing basis throughout the grant period. Formal written reports are required annually to assess both programmatic and financial performance.

CEPF also works with an external evaluation firm to measure the efficacy of the CEPF as a whole and make recommendations for improvement.