The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction recently unveiled a $25 million initiative, funded by the Golden LEAF Foundation, aimed at improving school performance through innovative educational strategies. 

The Golden LEAF Schools Initiative is a five-year comprehensive and innovative approach to educational improvement, targeting school culture, pedagogy, leadership, math instruction and career readiness.

“The Golden LEAF Schools Initiative is an important step toward achieving my vision: ensuring every child in North Carolina’s public schools achieves educational excellence,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Maurice “Mo” Green in a press release. “In order for North Carolina’s public schools to become the best in the country, we must rethink how we approach teaching and learning, and we must provide our schools with the appropriate support to do so.”

Green continued in a press release, “I also want to take this opportunity to recognize the great leadership of former Superintendent Catherine Truitt, who played a pivotal role in leading the development of this initiative in partnership with the Golden LEAF Foundation.”

“Golden LEAF Schools represents our commitment to long-term economic advancement through developing the workforce for the future. We are grateful for the visionary leadership of Superintendent Green and former Superintendent Truitt, whose dedication and leadership have been instrumental in bringing this initiative to life,” said Scott Hamilton, President of the Golden LEAF Foundation, in a press release. “This initiative not only addresses immediate educational needs but also sets a precedent for future scalability and success. We look forward to seeing the positive impact this will have on students, educators and communities across North Carolina."

The Golden LEAF Schools Initiative’s foundation is based on a proven approach to school improvement called Marzano’s High Reliability Schools (HRS) model and will include intensive coaching and resources. Additionally, participating schools will receive math resources and coaching, career readiness resources and funding for travel, stipends and bonuses. At the core of this innovation model is the HRS framework which is designed to help schools create a safe environment for both students and staff; improve operational efficiency; provide high-quality instruction aligned with clear learning goals; use ongoing assessments to meet student’s individual needs and foster a culture of growth, collaboration and innovation.

The initiative will support 20 middle schools across two cohorts. All participating schools must be located in rural counties with persistent Tier 1 or Tier 2 economic status. Low-performing schools will join the Transformative Schools Cohort (TSC) and receive the full range of resources and interventions. Schools in the Personalized, Competency-Based Education Cohort (PCBE) will receive targeted support in transforming instruction within their schools. A hallmark of the initiative will include frequent networking across the cohorts to facilitate collaboration and share best practices in implementing the HRS framework.  

"The Golden LEAF Foundation Board is proud to support this transformative initiative. Golden LEAF Schools is perfectly aligned with our mission to increase economic opportunity by investing in the potential of our students in rural and economically-distressed communities,” said Ralph Strayhorn, Chair of the Golden LEAF Foundation Board of Directors, in a press release.

The application for the Golden LEAF Schools Initiative will open on January 13, 2025. The deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. on March 21, 2025. Details on how to apply will be shared soon.