$10 million to ‘reinvent’ high school at Oakland charter

Nearly 700 teams nationally entered the Super School Project contest, submitting applications outlining how they would overhaul the public high school model, an effort sponsored by Palo Alto heiress Laurene Powell Jobs, widow of Apple founder Steve Jobs.

The Summit high school will expand on the personalized learning model the operator uses in its existing charter schools, officials said, featuring “a novel mentoring and advisory network that includes tutors, engaged professionals and community members who will support students in the pursuit of their academic and professional interests.”

“Along with our partners, we designed this school to provide high-quality, free, public school education in a personalized model that will meet the needs of a diverse student population,” said Summit founder and CEO Diane Tavenner in a statement.

“Summit Public Schools is already doing extraordinary work to help teachers tailor learning to students’ individual needs, and we are eager to further deepen our partnership in ways that will benefit all Oakland students,” said Oakland Unified Superintendent Antwan Wilson.

The project is funded by Jobs through her nonprofit Emerson Collective, which advocates for social issues like education and immigration reform.