Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors has announced a first round of grants through its California Education Policy Fund (CEPF) to organizations working to advance education policy reform in California.

Totaling $3.73 million over three years, the nine grants will support efforts to boost student achievement and college success, especially among underserved students. Established earlier this year with a $3.5 million gift from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and overseen by RPA, the fund aims to support an "ecosystem" of advocacy groups that can engage a broad array of stakeholders to effect policy changes at the state level. In addition to grants, the fund will provide technical assistance and facilitate collaboration among grantees working on a range of issues, from standards and accountability, to state education data systems, to the recruitment, development and retention of effective teachers, to extended learning time and universal preschool.

Grantees include the Campaign for College Opportunity, Children Now, EdTrust-West, the Institute for Higher Education Leadership and Policy (IHELP), the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, New America Media, Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE), Parent Revolution, and West Hills Community College District/C6 Consortium.

"Education policy is tough to change, because the issues are so broad and the stakeholders so diverse," said Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors president and CEO Melissa A. Berman. "But the remarkable applicants and final proposals demonstrate that the passion to improve students' options has not flagged and that there's real cause for optimism."