School Readiness

Marin County is ranked one of the wealthiest, healthiest, best educated county in California. However, ongoing systemic inequities in schools and communities continue to limit what’s possible for many children of color and youth living in poverty; resulting in some of the greatest disparities in the state. With a commitment to fostering diversity, inclusion and equity, the County of Marin works alongside like-minded partners that work to level the playing field supporting and enhancing education with a goal to close the educational equity gap. This ongoing work has resulted in a collaboration between the County and the Marin Promise Partnership, which is dedicated to closing the education achievement gap.

Marin Promise Partnership was formed so that every child, regardless of race, ethnicity or family income can reach their full educational potential.  More than 100 schools, community members, nonprofits, businesses, and government agencies have come together as a cross-sector, Cradle to Career Partnership to address Marin County’s persistent and systemic educational inequities.  Together, partners are breaking down barriers, building relationships, changing systems, and improving lives. The Marin County Board of Supervisors on March 12, 2020 approved $100,000 in matching funds for Marin Promise Partnership efforts in 2019. County funding was instrumental in creating the partnership.

Education is just one facet of the County of Marin’s equity measures and one of the Board of Supervisors’ top-priority “Four E’s” of ongoing focus: Equity, Education, Economy, and Environment. The Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution in 2016 that affirmed equity as a priority and took a stand against all forms of discrimination and intolerance. As a response to the COVID-19 emergency, the Marin County Free Library led the county in efforts to partner with local school districts and the Marin Promise Partnership, existing Wi-Fi hotspot services to students who have little or no access to the Internet so they don’t miss a beat with distance learning. Staff members from the Marin City Library embedded at Bayside Martin Luther King Jr. Academy in Marin City distributed Wi-Fi hotspots and Chromebooks to students, and also reached out to families in the after-school programs Smarty Ants and Reading Buddies to see if kids needed support.