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From theCEO
Growing Think Together’s reach in order to impact more students has long been a hallmark of Think Together’s history. However, the magnitude of our expansion this year is truly remarkable. The opportunity to scale our impact has never been greater, and we are committed to making the most of it.
Coming out of the pandemic, the students we serve face more obstacles than ever before. We are seeing more behavioral problems due to mental health challenges and the lack of social development during the pandemic. Academic performance across the country has dropped to levels not seen in 30 years. Our students need us now more than ever.
In the wake of this crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom and the State Legislature created the Expanded Learning Opportunity Program (ELO-P) to enable universal access to afterschool and summer programs for vulnerable students from transitional kindergarten through Grade 6. This increased the state investment from roughly $800 million per year to $4.8 billion per year.
While Think Together was fortunate to have built the largest infrastructure in the state supporting expanded learning over the past 15 years, it is still no match for the task of implementing at a universal access scale. We are in the midst of a multi-year growth cycle. In fiscal year 2023, we grew by more than 70%. Since fiscal year 2021, the organization has tripled in size. Despite this growth, many high-potential students and mission-critical programs are dependent on investments from the private sector to support innovation, the next generation of college students, and our future workforce. It takes a village.
I want to express my deepest gratitude for the dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to our village: our school partners, policy partners, private funding partners, volunteers including our Board of Directors, and our amazing staff. Together, we can make a greater impact than we could ever have imagined just a few years ago. Thank you for joining us on this incredible journey!
Randy Barth
Founder and CEO
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From theBoard Chair
As we close out another year, Think Together finds itself on the verge of a significant milestone: serving more than 2 million students through expanded learning and school improvement since our inception. It’s a goal that embodies unshakeable dedication to closing the achievement gap and providing exceptional educational opportunities to students of all backgrounds.
Our vision encompasses a holistic approach to education, starting with early learning programs that lay the foundation for future success. From there, our K–8 STEM, arts, sports, and enrichment programs spark curiosity and creativity in young minds. And for our high school students, we are committed to preparing them for their future through college and career readiness initiatives. We wrap these student programs in a data-driven, equity-based school improvement approach with teachers and education leaders that closes the achievement gap that has persisted far too long in our society.
However, our journey isn’t solely about numbers; it’s about cultivating stronger partnerships with the communities we serve. It’s about innovative collaborations that prioritize the success of our students, which amplify our impact and create opportunities that extend well beyond the classroom.
As we continue on this journey together, I want to express my deep appreciation for our board members, donors, school partners, and community leaders. With their steadfast support and belief in our mission, we have already changed the odds for 2 million students over 25 years, and we can look to impacting 2 million more in the years to come.
I am proud to serve as chair of the board during this transformative moment in Think Together’s history as we scale our growth to provide even more students with enriching opportunities to achieve their greatness.
Dan Young
Chair, Board of Directors
A Year in Review
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The past year has been a tremendous time of transformation for Think Together. Increased investments from the state to support Expanded Learning Opportunity Programs (ELOP) continue to transcend our field in ways we have only before imagined. In 2023, we have seen more than 70% growth in revenue, which translates into more students served and at a deeper level. To meet the moment, Think Together has stepped up our leadership, infrastructure, and support of partners to ensure students receive the opportunities to succeed and thrive in their education journeys.
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Think Together can only meet our mission to change the odds for kids with high-quality, well-trained staff. In 2022 in response to the nationwide staffing shortages, Think Together built a talent acquisition team, and over the past year we maximized and stabilized this vital part of our infrastructure. Think Together began the 2023 school year 94% staffed—a metric to celebrate. We also expanded our training capacity, improved our student registration platform, and strengthened our IT infrastructure.
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The masks might be off, but the effects of COVID remain damaging to student learning and progress throughout our state. To support more learning, we enhanced our program design with an innovative, research-based curriculum to maximize the time students are with Think Together. Our program development team has created more than 4,000 new lessons, activities, and experiences for students of all age groups heading into the 2023–2024 school year.
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Think Together’s college and career readiness programs are designed to empower students to dream big, set ambitious goals, and take the steps necessary to realize their potential. These programs provide guidance with college admissions, financial aid, and scholarship opportunities, ensuring that no student is left in the dark about higher education prospects. Yet, state and federal grants do not come close to meeting the demand or need. By partnering with community leaders like Bank of America, we introduced students to a wide array of career options, allowing them to make informed decisions about their future.
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Think Together continues to look to the horizon to ensure we meet today’s and tomorrow’s important moments in education. We launched the California Schools Talent Collaborative; designed enrichment accelerators for arts, STEM, and sports; expanded our unique partnership with AVID; and are strengthening our support for district leaders to close the opportunity gap. As we continue to envision the future, we always remain focused on our mission: to partner with schools to change the odds for kids.
Our Reach
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CA State Map
Bay Area
- Alum Rock USD
- San Jose USD
- Oak Grove SD**
Orenda Education Districts
- Lincoln USD
- Newark USD
Santa Barbara County
Orenda Education Districts
- Lompoc USD
- Santa Maria Joint UHSD
KERN COUNTY
Orenda Education Districts
- Mojave USD
San Bernardino County
- Central SD**
- Colton Joint USD
- Cucamonga SD
- Ontario-Montclair SD
- Rialto USD
- Victorville ESD
Orenda Education Districts
- Fontana USD
- Upland USD
Ventura County
Orenda Education Districts
- Oxnard USD
Los Angeles County
La Metro Region
- Alliance College-Ready Public Schools
- Alta Public Schools
- New Designs Charter Schools
- APEX Academy
- New Heights Charter School
- Camino Nuevo Charter Academy
- New Horizons Charter Academy
- City Language Immersion Charter Schools
- Pacoima Charter Elementary School
- Fenton Charter Public Schools
- Partnerships to Uplift Communities
- Grenada Hills Charter School
- STEM Preparatory Schools
- Ingenium Charter Schools
- Vaughn Next Century Learning Center
- Magnolia Public Schools
- Vista Charter Public Schools
- Montague Charter Academy
- YPI Charter Schools
SAN GABRIEL VALLEY REGION
- Allegiance STEAM Academy
- Arcadia USD
- Azusa USD
- Baldwin Park USD
- Duarte USD
SOUTH EAST LOS ANGELES REGION
- Bellflower USD
- Compton USD
- Lynwood USD
- Paramount USD**
SANTA FE SPRINGS REGION
- Bassett USD
- El Rancho USD
- Little Lake City SD
- Mountain View SD
- Puente Learning Center
- South Whittier SD
Orenda Education Districts
- Montebello USD
- Newhall SD
Riverside County
Riverside REGION
- City of Moreno Valley
- Hemet USD
- Jurupa USD
- Lake Elsinore USD
- Moreno Valley USD
- Nuview USD
- Perris ESD
- Perris UHSD
- San Jacinto USD
- Temecula Valley USD
- Val Verde USD
Palm Springs REGION
- Palm Springs USD
Orenda Education Districts
- Banning USD
- Riverside USD
Orange County
- Newport-Mesa USD**
- Orange USD
- Shalimar Learning Center*
- Shalimar Teen Center*
- Vista Charter Public Schools
Orenda Education Districts
- Orange Unified USD
San Diego County
Orenda Education Districts
- Fallbrook UHSD
- Diego County Office of Education
Imperial County
Orenda Education Districts
- Calexico USD
Our Focus Areas
Early Learning
Think Together’s Early Learning Programs focus on our youngest learners to ensure they start their education journey off right. Through preschools, parent education, family engagement, and a new program that supports in-home daycare providers with early learning training, we’re making an impact with children from birth to 5-years-old.
Watch our Early Learning Program in action
Transitional Kindergarten—8th Grade
Think Together’s expanded learning programs operate daily around a student’s school day to provide the academic support and enrichment that they may not receive otherwise.
Think Together’s before and after school programs enrich education through academics, arts, sports, physical fitness, STEM activities, and much more. Leaders inspire students to learn more, build confidence, and find their passions.Think Together’s before and after school programs enrich education through academics, arts, sports, physical fitness, STEM activities, and much more. Leaders inspire students to learn more, build confidence, and find their passions.
Watch an Afterschool student story
High School
High school afterschool programs are essential to the pivotal years that lead students into adulthood. Think Together high school programs provide enrichment, mentorship, and a safe space for teens at this critical age. Students engage in college continuum support; workforce readiness education program (WREP); student-led clubs, such as art, gardening, gaming, and dance; and life-skills workshops, including financial literacy, driver’s education, food handlers’ certification, and more.
Watch our Face of the Future scholarship recipient’s story
Think Summer
Additional funding this year allowed for more Think Summer students and experiences than ever before. Nine weeks of summer enrichment kept young minds learning and engaged during summer months. In 2023, students enjoyed over 200 field trips across 45 locations and a wide variety of on-site experiences.
In addition to Think Summer, school partners had the opportunity to offer Think Together programs during winter and spring breaks, totaling 30 additional days of expanded learning that benefited both students and their families.
Watch our Think Summer video here
School Improvement
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From theStudent
StoryMeet Jacquese
During his time at Think Together, Jacquese, a senior at Compton High School, experienced something he had never dreamed of: learning to program and fly drones. This program, made possible through a grant from The Boeing Company, ignited an interest in Jacquese that will carry him into his future.
Jacquese plans to double major in mechanical engineering and computer science. He also wants to help his community by encouraging young people like him to be the best they can be and steer them toward pursuing higher education.
Jacquese highlighted the impact Think Together’s workforce readiness education program (WREP) had on preparing him for college: “I’ve been introduced to so many opportunities when I completed the WREP program. It basically jump-starts you in a way that you can’t do by yourself.”
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From theIn
MemoriamRemembering Mike
On July 15, 2023, we lost a leader, colleague, and friend, Mike Frobenius.
Mike joined Think Together in 2007 as Chief Financial Officer. During his tenure, he led not only the finance team, but also IT, risk management, facilities, and production. In 2013, Mike was honored by the Orange County Business Journal with CFO of the Year. Mike was an integral part of the executive team and made key decisions that helped Think Together grow to serving over 200,000 students throughout California today.
Mike led with purpose, empathy, and kindness. He was an influential leader, and those who had the good fortune to work with him were better for it.
Our Partners, Donors, And Statement of Activities
The importance of providing a safe space for students to learn to read, write, and develop critical thinking skills cannot be understated. I see the impact of grants and donations for programs like literacy, math, science, and arts every day. These programs unlock so much for our students; they help expand their imagination and strengthen their academic self-concept.
— Richard Tran,
General Manager
Think Together, Bay Area