Venture Capital
The Chicago Public Education Fund accelerates student achievement in Chicago’s traditional and charter public schools by building high-performing teams of principals and teachers, improving evaluation and accountability systemwide, and reinventing classrooms with the innovative use of time, technology and talent.
Our Venture Capital Model The Chicago Public Education Fund applies principles of venture capital to make systemic improvements in education, with a focus on talent and leadership in our schools. Our approach is further defining a burgeoning field of private sector investment in public education, and is being studied by America’s top business schools as a model of innovation in philanthropy. READ MORE
Human Capital
By investing in a range of projects and start-up portfolio programs, The Fund bets on bold and innovative ideas that meet our goals and strong management teams who can deliver results inside schools. We also bet on the principals and teachers making a difference in our schools every day
Our Path Forward Chairman Brian Simmons outlined new strategic priorities at The Fund’s Path Forward on December 6 The Chicago Public Education Fund began a dozen years ago with a pretty simple question: How can private sector capital and know-how help improve outcomes in public schools? READ MORE


News
MAYOR RAHM EMANUEL APPLAUDS CHICAGO PUBLIC EDUCATION FUND Mayor Rahm Emanuel spoke at The Fund’s Path Forward event and lauded efforts to align investments with strategic priorities of Chicago Public Schools.
The Bitter Pill About Education Chicago Tribune Perspective by Brian Simmons So now we know the bad news: Our schools simply don't prepare students for success. A new report by the University of Chicago Consortium on School Research ...
The Chicago Public Education Fund welcomes Tim Knowles as newest member of board of directors The Chicago Public Education Fund's board of directors selected Tim Knowles, an influential expert on Chicago and national education reform, as its newest ...
Rollout of teacher screening test

Catalyst-Chicago
By Rebecca Harris
Founding President and CEO Janet Knupp is quoted in an article about the launch of the new CPS TeacherFit inventory tool. She said The Fund invested in the creation and validation of this tool as part of CPS’ new online hiring process because, “We wanted to find ways where teacher potential could be measured at the time of application.”


Watch
The Fund: Venture Capital for Education The Fund’s officers and investors explain our unique model WATCH VIDEO
The Fund: A Track Record of Results What The Fund has achieved to improve the quality of human capital WATCH VIDEO
The Fund’s Board: Great Power, Great Responsibility A profile of The Fund’s highly engaged and results-focused directors WATCH VIDEO
U.S. Education Secretary Duncan and The Fund U.S. Education Secretary remarks on his previous history and partnership with The Fund WATCH VIDEO
The Chicago Public Education Fund
200 West Adams Street, Suite 2150
Chicago, IL 60606
Phone: 312.558.4500
Fax: 312.558.4506
E-mail: info@thefundchicago.org
About The Fund
As a venture capital fund for public education, The Chicago Public Education Fund invests in well-managed, high-impact programs that improve school leadership and student achievement system wide.
Recent News
Our Path Forward
The Chicago Public Education Fund began a dozen years ago with a pretty simple question: How can private sector capital and know-how help improve outcomes in public schools?