Kids First Chicago for Education

New Schools for Chicago (NSC) is a venture philanthropy organization that has invested in the start-up of autonomous Chicago public schools. NSC was established by Chicago's business and civic leadership to support Renaissance 2010, an initiative to create 100 new public schools of choice in the City of Chicago's most challenged communities. In its first ten years, NSC raised money, supported the opening of new schools, made grants to fund the start-up of schools and hosted the New Schools EXPO for parents, students and community members. Shifting from new school growth to ensuring high quality performance in Chicago Public Schools (CPS), NSC, during fiscal year 2015, redirected its strategic focus. While many of the schools of choice are doing well, some are not as high quality as anticipated. NSC is now working to support the performance of these schools through targeted programs to schools and school leaders as well as by fostering an environment that allows these schools to thrive.