Two education groups head toward merger

A statewide education group best known for sponsoring voter initiatives and a Seattle-based nonprofit that has worked intensively with two Seattle schools planned to announce Wednesday they will merge.

The two groups — the League of Education Voters Foundation and The New School Foundation — have worked on different education initiatives over the past decade, but they share an interest in early learning and improving education for all children.

Together, they will continue the League's education-policy work and continue the foundation's support of South Shore preK-8, the second Seattle school the foundation has supported in an effort to erase the achievement gap. The merged organization also will work on spreading the model developed at South Shore to other schools, including a full year of preschool.

The merger is effective July 31. The merged organization will be called the League of Education Voters Foundation.

The League, which is 10 years old, is best known for running two voter initiatives to increase education spending in the state — one of which was successful and one that failed.

The New School Foundation, founded in 1998, worked first with T.T. Minor Elementary in Seattle, which the school district has since closed, providing $1 million in financial support each year for eight years. In 2002, it formed a partnership with South Shore preK-8, and is providing the same level of support through 2012.

Linda Shaw: 206-464-2359 or lshaw@seattletimes.com