Incline Education Fund envisions an engaged, collaborative community that places a priority on education. We are committed to supporting our schools so that each of our children can reach their fullest potential.
IEF will create a Community Education Foundation that assists in providing a world class education as awe-inspiring as our surroundings.
Our goal is to build a self-sustaining financial endowment that supports our programs. We will do this by setting aside a portion of our annual fundraising revenues to grow this endowment to stabilize the organization and to have the capacity to award future annual grants.
We believe passionately that the children in Incline Village deserve a world class education, one that provides access to 21stcentury tools and innovative programs that prepare them for their futures. That includes technology skills, experiential learning programs, enriched literacy programs, mentor and internship programs, college counseling, career coaching, scholarships and financial literacy courses as well as both educator and parental support.
IEF will independently partner with local administrators, parent groups (Boosters, PTA) and other local non-profits and businesses to identify needs that supplement or enhance educational opportunities for our students. We will offer access to a wide range of resources and enriching programs (both in and out of the classroom) to help prepare our students for their futures as productive members of society.
The Need: Inadequate public school funding
Like virtually every other public school district in the U.S., Washoe County School District is drastically underfunded. In fact, K12 schools in Nevada are among THE lowest funded in the nation.
A 2018 study commissioned by the Nevada Legislature determined that “adequate” annual per-pupil funding would be $9,238. The national average is $11,762. Current Nevada funding is almost half that, at $5,897 per pupil.
It is impossible to provide a top-notch education through the allotment of tax dollars alone. Throw in an overly complicated and unfunded “funding formula” and schools are left to fend for themselves.
Unfortunately, as we look toward the future of our school system, this problem is not going away anytime soon. With looming cuts to the state budget due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to support local education is growing.
IEF is working to fill these funding gaps through both long and short term efforts. We address current needs and issues via program-specific fundraising projects while also building an endowment to support future generations of Incline students.
We all know Lake Tahoe – and Incline Village in particular – is an incredible place to raise a family. Few spots anywhere in the world rival our area’s beauty and recreational opportunities. But not everyone knows how good our schools really are, despite inadequate funding.
Good schools attract more families. Increased enrollment leads to more funding. Better funding allows for innovative programs, better teacher compensation and lower turnover… all of which lead to a great K12 experience and stability in our community.
“Incline Education Fund has proven to be an invaluable resource in our community for so many families. Lake Tahoe School is proud to partner with this exceptional program through such events as the speaker series and their larger outreach programs in the Tahoe basin. We look forward to many future collaborations.”
Kris Nugent
Asst. Head of School/Dir. of Admissions, Lake Tahoe School