Founders Library

Inside ‘The Founders’: Victoria Rico, George W. Brackenridge Foundation

The 74 MillionVictoria Rico Oral History TX

Courtesy of The 74 Million
https://www.the74million.org/

Transcript

Victoria Rico, chair of the George W. Brackenridge Foundation, discussed the foundation’s efforts to support high-performing charter schools in San Antonio, Texas. She co-founded Choose to Succeed to recruit and support charter operators like KIPP and IDEA Public Schools. Rico highlighted the foundation’s role in expanding these schools, noting that San Antonio now has 21 charter schools. She emphasized the importance of philanthropic support due to insufficient public funding and the challenges posed by traditional public school establishments. Data from Stanford University’s Center for Research on Education Outcomes showed that these schools provide over 100 extra days of learning per year, significantly enhancing student outcomes.

Action Items

  • [ ] Reach out to Mark Larson, the founder-leader of KIPP San Antonio, to talk to KIPP students.
  • [ ] Follow up with IDEA Public Schools about expanding their presence in San Antonio.
  • [ ] Advocate publicly for high-performing charter operators to receive charters in San Antonio.
  • [ ] Continue supporting the growth of high-performing charter schools in San Antonio through philanthropic funding.

Outline

George W. Brackenridge Foundation Overview

  • Victoria Rico introduces herself as the chair of the George W. Brackenridge Foundation, a small foundation in San Antonio, Texas, dedicated solely to education.
  • She explains her background as an attorney and her involvement with the foundation, which began in late 2011.
  • Victoria co-founded Choose to Succeed, an organization aimed at supporting high-performing charter operators in San Antonio.
  • She shares her initial excitement after visiting KIPP San Antonio and watching the documentary “Waiting for Superman,” which inspired her to seek out more high-performing charter schools.

Expansion of High-Performing Charter Schools

  • Victoria recounts a pivotal moment when she met the attorney for the Brackenridge Foundation and the chief growth officer of IDEA Public Schools, leading to a visit to IDEA schools in the Rio Grande Valley.
  • She describes the impressive infrastructure and instructional quality of IDEA schools, which convinced her to bring them to San Antonio.
  • Victoria highlights the collaborative nature of the charter movement, where introductions from one high-performing charter to another facilitated growth.
  • She mentions the role of the Philanthropy Roundtable in organizing tours of high-performing schools, which helped in expanding the portfolio to 21 schools.

Challenges and Successes in Charter School Expansion

  • Victoria discusses the importance of philanthropy in supporting charter schools, especially in Texas where public funding is often insufficient.
  • She emphasizes the need for community-driven efforts to secure charters and overcome various obstacles to charter growth.
  • Victoria notes the resistance from traditional public school establishments, particularly teachers’ associations, which often opposed high-performing charter operators.
  • She highlights the demographic significance of San Antonio, which mirrors the future diversity of the United States, making it an important test case for charter schools.

Impact of High-Performing Charter Schools

  • Victoria shares her observations of the educational quality at BASIS, where sixth graders were engaged in advanced science classes, far surpassing traditional public school standards.
  • She reflects on the challenges of providing the necessary education to prepare students for the 21st-century economy, given the current system’s shortcomings.
  • Victoria recounts her visits to KIPP San Antonio, where she met students overcoming significant challenges but still achieving academic success.
  • She discusses the transformative impact of high-performing charter schools, as evidenced by data showing significant educational gains in math and reading.

Philanthropic Efforts and Future Goals

  • Victoria acknowledges the difficulties of building high-performing charter schools, including the loss of potential schools due to bureaucratic and political challenges.
  • She expresses her determination to continue the work, inspired by the success stories of students who overcome adversity.
  • Victoria highlights the role of philanthropic organizations in supporting charter schools, including the Brackenridge Foundation, Ewing Halls, and the San Antonio Area Foundation.
  • She concludes by emphasizing the importance of philanthropy in providing the necessary resources for charter schools to succeed and grow, despite the challenges they face.