Our Mission

Construct Foundation was formed in 2013 as a public foundation to advance teaching and learning models that prepare students with the skills they will need to succeed in a rapidly changing modern world. We serve Oregon students by introducing breakthrough educational approaches to school leaders and teachers, providing both programmatic and financial support. We engage industry partners to connect critical thinking and problem solving to real-world professional scenarios. We partner with funders to expand the number of schools, teachers, and students who can benefit from new approaches to teaching and learning. Our goal is to disrupt public education in positive ways, replacing outdated traditions and constraints with 21st-century teaching and learning approaches.

The incubator approach

We know that positive systemic change in education doesn’t come quickly or easily. New, disruptive models for teaching must be tested, refined, and proven before they can become instruments for widespread impact.

Construct is proud to serve as an incubator for the development of these new education models. We support promising programs at an early stage to give edupreneurs rich opportunities to refine their models and address possible barriers to expansion. Our goal is for every program involved in the Construct incubator process to emerge with attainable sustainable funding sources and a plausible path to scale.

 

How does it work

Construct collaborates with visionary educators who share a commitment to serving under-resourced schools. Our partners have classroom experience, have worked in teacher professional development, and have created transformative learning programs that develop 21st-century skills. These programs are grounded in research, and our partners are ready to gather evidence.

 

Three Phases of Incubation:

Phase 1:

  • Prototype in Oregon.

  • Test with local education stakeholders.

  • Identify measurable outcomes.

Phase 2:  

  • Adapt and refine program features. 

  • Align with goals of stakeholders, funders, and strategic partners.

Phase 3:

  • Develop a diverse funding model by engaging larger foundations and private donors, charging a fee for services offered to education partners, and partnering with organizations that have fundraising capacity.