Collective Impact Initiative to Expand Middle School Excellence Classes

The public committee to increase human capital in high-tech, chaired by Dadi Perlmutter, recommended, based on research conducted by the Aaron Institute, to significantly expand and diversify middle school excellence classes and high school graduates of “tech matriculation” (combining five-units in mathematics, English, physics and/or computer science). This recommendation is based on an understanding that excellence classes and tech matriculation tracks are the main levers for achieving the national target to increase the rate of employees in the Israeli high-tech industry to 15% by 2026.

The government adopted these recommendations and in accordance, prepared a five-year program. The program has been incorporated into the national budget that is now going through legislation at the Knesset. It is budgeted at 150-170 million NIS per year over the next five years, with an aim to gradually increase the availability of excellence classes from the current 260 schools to 540 schools. The selection process of new schools will give special emphasis to those with students from low socio-economic backgrounds in the social periphery, the Arab society and classes comprised of at least 50% female students.

In its decision, the government cabinet expressed its intention to approach the nonprofit and business sectors and seek their partnership in implementing the program, within a framework of “collective impact” methodology. To do so, the Ministries of Finance and Education called upon the foundation and the Top15 initiative and sought their advice and collaboration. TOP15 was established in 2018 by Sheatufim, an organization with expertise in collective impact efforts, which previously led the 5p2 initiative around the five-unit target for high school.

Sheatufim is therefore proposing to expand the Top15 initiative which, until now, concentrated on applied mathematics and the PISA standards, to include a wider partnership around excellence classes and tech-matriculation tracks. Their proposal includes:

1. Building a collective multi-sector movement around the targets of the program. New members who represent organizations relevant to the program will be invited to join the effort. The steering committee will be strengthened in this direction as well. A detailed work plan for meetings, workshops and seminars will be prepared, as well as a joint media program.

2. Operating work groups promoting the goals and coordinating the implementation of the national program, including workgroups focusing on specific needs of students from the northern and southern districts, female, and Arab students, as well as a work group on how to harness online learning and tutoring to improve learning and overcome teacher shortage.

3. Creating a support network for the excellence classes by high-tech companies, in collaboration with the Israel Advanced Technology Industries (IATI). The plan is for approximately 50 companies to volunteer to “adopt” 10 schools each and arrange encounters and visits for students, teachers, principals, and parents as well as organize lectures and mentoring to present role modelling and a clearer picture of a possible future for the students.

* The text above shows the grant as approved by the Foundation’s Board of Directors / Grant 509
** In practice, Sheatufim prepared a detailed work plan for meetings and workshops, established work groups, and created a coalition of businesses and high-tech companies. However, when the war started on October 7th, Sheatufim decided that under the new circumstances, it would cease work and address other urgent priorities. We therefore recommended closing the grant.