What We Do

The Princeton Education Foundation exists to support the students in the Princeton Public Schools by ensuring they have access to exceptional facilities and a model curriculum. Princeton has long enjoyed a reputation for high quality education and PEF aims to continue to play a role in distinguishing our schools as the top performing in the state and nation. Our vision is to enhance student learning and arm our students with the tools and self-confidence to reach their dreams.

Currently, the NJ state legislature strictly caps annual school budget increases at 2%. However, the budget must still cover state and federal mandated programs, and increases in energy and insurance costs (which have been growing at a rate far exceeding 2%). The Board of Education struggles annually to make difficult budget choices: maintaining programs, balancing funding, and retaining excellent teachers. In this environment, it is very difficult to add new programs and upgrade classroom technology – that is where the Education Foundation steps in!

The PEF Grant program serves as a catalyst to support and enhance school improvement programs that heighten learning opportunities for students in the Princeton Public Schools.

MILESTONES

2016

The popular JW Regatta is funded for the second year to apply science, technology and engineering skills as students design a cardboard racing vessel to race in the pool.

2015

PEF funds the first student lead grant Choose To Engage to highlight racial literacy

2014

Princeton Education Foundation receives record number of applications for Teacher Mini-grant program; Increases funding to support wide range of innovative classroom projects across all schools

2013

PEF grants and gifts totaling nearly $89,000 enable outfitting of a small group instruction room in the new JW Learning Commons, and make robotics and computer science enhancements at JW and PHS.

2012

PEF funds combined with gifts from the Community Park and Johnson Park PTOs provide the District with $113,500 toward technology and upgrades for media centers and vocal and instrumental classrooms at all four elementary schools, as well as specific classroom enhancements at Community park and Johnson Park.

2011

PEF establishes two $50,000 endowments at the Princeton Area Community Foundation to support science education and excellence in education in the Princeton Public Schools.
The PHS & JW Media Centers receive new computers.

The PowerUp! Technology Campaign is launched with the goal of ensuring that every classroom from Pre-K to 12th grade has the tools and equipment it needs to support today’s students.

2009

TV production equipment is purchased for JW Middle School.

2008

The Institute for Advanced Study bestows $100,000 to name the PHS biology wing and to support K-12 science education. Initiation of the Student Investigative Project, a new way of teaching scientific inquiry to elementary school students.

2007

Over $100,000 is raised for fitness equipment, teacher training and innovative exercise programs for the newly established PHS Fitness Center.PEF’s Love Your Library Campaign raises $10,000 for new media for the renovated PHS library.

2006

Take a Seat, PEF’s first large scale capital campaign, raises more than $300,000 for the PHS Performing Arts Center. PEF funding was used for a choral shell, orchestra pit cover and acoustic enhancements.

2005

The popular Music After School Program begins. The program has provided after school group music lessons to hundreds of elementary students since it was started.

2003

A Mathematics Residency is established at JW Middle School.

2001

The StarLab, a traveling astronomy center for K-5 students, is purchased with PEF support.

1995

PEF’s signature Teacher Mini-Grants begin.  Since inception, PEF has dedicated over $200,000 to funding more than 240 teacher projects, including artists-in-residence, multi-cultural studies, technology development, parent education, specialized fitness programs, programs for autism, books for ESL learners, civics lessons and much more.