The mission of the Great Oaks Foundation is to launch and support a network of charter schools that prepare students for college success through high-dosage mentoring. We seek to do this through the following core programmatic elements:

• Unrelenting College Focus: We strive to ensure that every student receives a high-quality education through excellent teaching, individualized instruction, and an emphasis on strong relationships with students and their families. Our schools have a culture of high academic expectations, predicated on the belief that every child can learn and earn a degree from a four-year institution.
• Redefining High-Quality Teacher Training: We want to create a pipeline of talented educators both within and beyond our network. Great Oaks offers a pathway to a Master’s degree and teacher certification through the Great Oaks Teacher Residency program. This program blends expertise in pedagogy, educational theory and real-world classroom training, led by the faculty of NYU Steinhardt’s School of Culture, Education, and Human Development.
• Investing in Communities: The Great Oaks Foundation is committed to the vitality of the communities in which our schools operate. The shape this takes depends on the needs of the community and is facilitated through numerous collaborative partnerships.