Priscilla Chan's school shuts after $125M funding; she pledges $10M more

Priscilla Chan's education initiative, The Primary School, is closing after a decade of operations and reportedly more than $125 million in funding from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). Founded to combine education with healthcare and family support, the project sought to address challenges affecting children's development and learning. Following the closure announcement, CZI committed more than $10 million towards community services in East Palo Alto and Belle Haven. The funding will support local healthcare, early childhood development and family wellbeing. The development highlights the challenges of sustaining privately funded education models and the role of philanthropy in supporting communities beyond individual schools.Priscilla Chan's school project and its $125 million fundingThe Primary School was established in 2016 with backing from Priscilla Chan and CZI. It sought to integrate classroom education with healthcare and family services, serving children in East Palo Alto, California, before expanding to San Leandro.The initiative was built on the idea that children's academic progress is influenced by their health, family circumstances and access to support. Its pro...