The Adopt-A-School Program is a public-private alliance that helps improve teacher competency and school infrastructure in public schools in El Salvador. By matching the financial contributions of private sector partners, who wish to “adopt”a school to improve education in the public school system, USAID helps strengthen the quality of education for children and youth.

The school sponsorship program begins with an institutional evaluation that identifies the current state of the school, prioritizes needs, and creates a work plan.  In coordination with the Salvadoran Ministry of Education, businesses can sponsor a public school through USAID’s alliance with the Business Foundation for Educational Development (FEPADE).  The program works directly with teachers and school principals in each participating school, providing trainings and in-class accompaniment with the goal of improving established educational indicators, including academic achievement and reducing dropout rates.

The program has established 46 alliances to date with the private sector to sponsor 157 public schools that benefit 223,546 students. Nearly 350 school principals have received technical assistance to improve school administration and planning.  More than 4,000 teachers have been trained in “learning by doing,” a creative, hands-on methodology to engage students, and competency-based teaching methods in language and math.  Risk prevention is integrated throughout the curriculum. USAID and its private sector partners also established 15 digital learning centers, with modern computer labs and training in the use of information technology.

Under the program, two technical high school institutes, where youth can continue technical careers close to their homes, were built with major contributions from Kimberly Clark and INDUFOAM, a Salvadoran mattress manufacturer.

Private Sector partners include:

Irish Coffee; IBERO El Salvador; Fundación Rafael Meza Ayau    ; Fundación UNO; Comité Olímpico El Salvador; Fundación Max Freund; TIGO El Salvador; BAC Credomatic; HanesBrand, Inc.; COEX; Compañía Azucarera Salvadoreña, CASSA; Samuel Quirós; Fundación H. de Sola; Sherwin Williams; INFRASAL; ACSA; Publicidad Comercial; FUNDAQUIQUE; INDUFOAM; Evergreen; AEREOMAN; Kimberly-Clark; Fundación ADOC; One Kid One World; CITI Bank; AsociaciSantiago; FORTAS-FUSADES; FUNDEMAS FIDES; Green Inversiones; Porter Novelli; HSBC Holding; Fideicomiso Walter Soundy; CHARTIS; and YKK