With local funding of public education increasingly necessary as State and Federal funding crumbles, PEF seeks to raise funds for well-defined programs that fill essential educational gaps across our district schools. PEF's targeted financial support is one part of a larger, long-term solution needed to fund quality education in the Pacifica School District.

PEF funds are allocated to programs selected by the PEF Board, after collecting input from PEF Board members, leaders in school Parent-Teacher organizations, parent and community volunteers and PSD representatives. PEF will fund programs that meet these basic criteria:

  • Support the Pacifica School District strategic plan
  • Promote equitable education across district schools
  • Align with PEF budget and funding constraints
  • Are attractive to outside funding sources

In addition, recommended programs are evaluated against the following criteria:

  • Addresses a broad or acute educational gap
  • Reaches a significant portion of student or faculty population
  • Potential for significant impact in improving test scores or other assessments
  • Promotes volunteer efforts across schools
  • Encourages student engagement and love for learning

Programs may be single year or span multiple years provided the PEF Board approves the plan and commits to the fund-raising efforts necessary to sustain the program.

Near-Term PEF Priority: Increasing 21st Century Skills

To be prepared for adult life, higher education and future careers in a global economy, students today need 21st Century Skills in technology, information collection and analysis. Information analysis and technology use are important components of everyday life and virtually every career path. Students need to be comfortable with technology and know how to apply it for math, science, communications and daily productivity.

To teach our children, our teachers and supporting classroom aides and volunteers must be trained and kept current on how to use 21st Century technology such as the Internet, computers and software. Funding to support development of these core skills across the curriculum is non-existent in PSD. For the period 2008-2010, PEF fund-raising will focus on providing sustainable funding to improve 21st Century Skills. This initiative meets all our basic and extended criteria and offers opportunities to integrate with efforts in math, science, literacy and enrichment. Depending on the success of PEF fund-raising efforts, candidate programs include:

  • Creating a District position to develop, deliver and maintain a consistent program across schools to teach students and faculty online Learning and media skills, using computer software and the Internet for research, analysis, presentation and communications
  • Improved Technology equipment, training and support
  • Expanded Multimedia Equipment and Training for Students & Faculty

Help us provide the information and technology programs that ensure 21st Century learning skills for every PSD child; click here to donate to PEF.

Follow-on Funding Candidate: Laboratory-based Science

Scientific knowledge is an integral part of our lives. Our students and teachers need to keep up and science funding is woefully inadequate. When fund-raising success allows, PEF plans a second initiative directed towards sustainable supplemental funding of PSD Science offerings. These efforts would also meet all of our basic and extended criteria. Candidate programs include:

  • Improved curriculum support, materials and equipment for Science Projects
  • A staff resource to support Science Labs across the District
  • A shared Science Teacher across PSD schools that cannot individually afford dedicated instructional support
  • Cross-district resource for integrating science programs with gardening and green house activities
  • Formal Curriculum and Instruction on Nutrition

Help us make a high-quality science education part of PSD education, click here to donate to PEF.


Potential Future Funding Candidates:


Expanded Instructional Support

Every child is a unique individual and learns in his or her own way. Ensuring our children have sufficient educational support and individualized attention is critical to developing successful learning strategies and improving test scores. Funding for extended instructional support would allow PSD to hire additional qualified aides to support Math and Literacy in the classroom and across grade levels, as well as provide additional resources for training our teachers on proven approaches to improving educational outcomes. In the future, PEF hopes to:

  • Provide funding for instructional aides to provide concentrated support and tutoring for Math & Literacy
  • Expand Staff Development & Teacher Training to maintain and improve teaching quality

Health and Enrichment Programs

To build vibrant future communities, our children must be healthy, active, well-rounded citizens. Our state no longer offers an educational program that addresses the whole child. As PEF grows its volunteer and funding base, we hope to provide sustained supplemental funding for health and enrichment programs that offer our children an opportunity for a truly comprehensive education.

  • Increased Physical Education
  • Formal Nutritional Training
  • Expanded offerings in Art, Music, Drama, Foreign Language and other Electives
  • Programmatic integration of environmental education and greenhouse activities into Science and related curriculum
  • After-school activities and support programs
  • GATE (Gifted & Talented Education) programs
  • Increased funding for speakers, performances, field trips & other events