Alliance for Excellent Education: Championing Student Success

The Alliance for Excellent Education (AEE), also known as All4Ed, stands as a prominent voice in the landscape of American education policy. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, AEE dedicates its resources and expertise to advocating for policies that improve outcomes for high school students, particularly those most at risk of not graduating ready for college, work, and citizenship in the 21st century.

Founding and Mission

In December 1999, Gerard and Lilo Leeds established the Alliance for Excellent Education, driven by a vision to scale up the success of the ISA (presumably, the name of a successful educational model). Gerard and Lilo Leeds served as the first chair and vice-chair, respectively. Susan Frost was hired as the first President in 2001, marking the beginning of the organization's focused efforts to influence education policy at the national level.

The core mission of the Alliance for Excellent Education revolves around ensuring that all students, especially the six million most at-risk secondary school students in America, graduate from high school equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to thrive in college, the workforce, and as engaged citizens. These at-risk students often find themselves in the lowest achievement quartile, facing a higher likelihood of dropping out of school or graduating without adequate preparation for future success.

Key Areas of Focus

The Alliance for Excellent Education concentrates its efforts on several key areas to achieve its mission:

Policy Advocacy

AEE actively works to improve national and state policies related to education. This involves advocating for changes that support student achievement and graduation rates. The organization aims to influence policymakers to prioritize initiatives that address critical needs in secondary education.

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Digital Learning

Recognizing the transformative potential of technology in education, the Alliance has been a strong advocate for digital learning. It embraces the Connected Learning principles, which emphasize the importance of leveraging digital media to create engaging and effective learning experiences.

Addressing Weaknesses in Education Legislation

Under the leadership of its first President, Susan Frost, the Alliance played a crucial role in identifying weaknesses in President George W. Bush’s No Child Left Behind Act. Frost and her team recognized key strategies for policymakers to help schools raise student achievement and graduation rates.

Expanding the Federal Role in High School Education

The Alliance has consistently called on national policymakers to expand the federal role in education, particularly for high school students. It has championed initiatives focused on:

Adolescent literacy
Teacher and principal quality
College preparation planning
Smaller, more personalized learning communities

Leadership and Transitions

The Alliance for Excellent Education has experienced changes in leadership over the years. Susan Frost, the organization's first President, resigned on August 3, 2004. In February 2005, Bob Wise, former Governor of West Virginia, was appointed as the Alliance's second President, bringing his experience and perspective to the organization's work.

Support for Common Core State Standards Initiative

The AEE has voiced its support for the Common Core State Standards Initiative (CCSS). The Alliance believes that the CCSS have the potential to transform teaching and learning, ensuring that students master key concepts and skills to become lifelong learners.

Financial Status

The Alliance for Excellent Education is classified as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization. This designation is governed by the U.S. tax code, which outlines specific conditions that organizations must meet to qualify for tax-exempt status.

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