Irvine Company has presented the Irvine Unified School District with a $2 million check in support of arts, music and science education. This contribution, part of a 20-year, $45 million funding commitment by Irvine Company, enables IUSD to maintain the highest level of education in times of constrained local and state budgets and invest in new educational technologies in response to the pandemic. Since 2006, Irvine Company’s Excellence in Education Enrichment Fund has helped more than 100,000 elementary students.
“Education has always been at the core of our planning efforts in Irvine and today’s contribution continues our Company’s decades-long partnership with IUSD, students and families to support enrichment programs in science, art and music,” said Irvine Company Vice President Jeff Davis. “These programs have helped create one of the highest-performing districts in California.”
Irvine Company’s funding helps provide art, music and science teachers to every fourth through-sixth grader in the district. Instruction includes two one-hour science lessons per week, two 40-minute music lessons per week, and six one-hour art lessons per year – all taught by highly specialized instructors. As a result, IUSD students outperform their peers in California and the nation in many of these subjects.
“This commitment is essential in helping IUSD address the challenges brought on by the pandemic and helps maintain our specialized programming,” IUSD Superintendent Terry Walker said.
By utilizing the dedicated specialty teachers funded through the Excellence in Education and Enrichment program, IUSD has created smaller groups for in-person and hybrid instruction. Additionally, investments in classroom technologies and innovative educational platforms have enabled students to collaborate and perform complex symphonies and science labs virtually with fellow students.
“We are grateful for the support of our community and Irvine Company in these unprecedented times,” Walker said. “IUSD students continue to receive one of the best educations in America because of our dedicated teachers, supportive parents and our community partners.”
