• An endowment, funded in 1988, for El Reno Public Schools;
  A non-profit, tax exempt organization {501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Tax Code};
• A board consisting of community members, also ex-officio members representing the El Reno Public Schools Board of Education, school administration, and teachers;
• A provider of grant opportunities for El Reno Public School teachers, programs, and school sites, to expand, enrich, and enhance educational opportunities which are not otherwise funded by the school district;
• A manager, in conjunction with El Reno Public Schools, of a mentoring program designed to focus on students of all ability, race, ethnicity, and national origin;
• Does not make capital improvements, compensation payments to teachers, or collaborate with district bond issues.

• Help El Reno Public Schools maximize the quality of education for students in the district;
• Work closely with El Reno Public Schools Board of Education, administration, and teachers to pursue the common goal of advancing excellence in educational opportunities within the district;
• Maintain independence, while still working in collaboration, from the El Reno Public Schools Board of Education and administration.

• Generous individual donors
• Memorials and bequests
• Funding-raising events
• Tributes
• In-kind donations

Every contribution is divided in half with an equal amount going to the endowment fund and grants and operations. Funds are carefully invested for maximum growth and safety. Through the grants program, more than $300,000 has been awarded to El Reno Public Schools teachers and educational leaders.

Grant Applications (Leslie F. Roblyer Leadership Grant, School Site Foundation Grant, Individual Staff Member Foundation Grant, and Walker High School Grant) are carefully reviewed for need, project objectives, implementation schedule, benefits to students, achievement milestones, and budget.

El Reno Public School Foundation exclusively supports El Reno Public Schools. Endowments ensure perpetual sources of supplemental funding, but does not replace traditional state, local, and federal funding sources, or alter the amount of these sources. Foundation support impacts teachers who impact students, provides direct incentive/recognition of El Reno Public Schools’ teachers at all levels, and grant programs encourage innovative and creative thinking for student learning and achievement.

Many projects funded by the Foundation are actually used as models for other classrooms and/or pilot programs. Teachers who utilize new techniques and strategies often go on to train other teachers at their own site, throughout the district, and beyond. Successful pilot programs spread throughout the district and can possible lead to positive changes in curriculum, instruction, and program offerings.