National Academy Foundation
| Non-profit organization | |
| Founded | 1982 |
| Headquarters | New York, New York |
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Key people
|
Sanford I. Weill, Chairman Chairman Emeritus, Citigroup |
| Website | Naf.org |
Sanford I. Weill, Chairman Chairman Emeritus, Citigroup
Kenneth I. Chenault, Vice Chairman Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, American Express Company
NAF (formerly known as National Academy Foundation) is an educational non-profit organization. The mission of NAF is to solve some of the biggest challenges facing education and the economy by bringing education, business, and community leaders together to transform the high school experience. NAF’s educational design ignites students’ passion for learning and gives businesses the opportunity to shape America’s future workforce by transforming the learning environment to include STEM infused industry-specific curricula and work-based learning experiences, including internships. Since 1982, NAF has been partnering with existing high schools in high-need communities to enhance school systems at a low cost by implementing NAF academies – small learning communities within traditional high schools.
NAF was created by philanthropist Sanford I. Weill. His proposal was accepted by the New York City Board of Education to open the first Academy of Finance in a Brooklyn public high school, John Dewey High School, in 1982. The program was designed specifically to address the disconnect between the need for skilled workforce talent and the lack of opportunity for young people in New York City.
As Weill explained in his testimony before the House Ways and Means Committee:
In 1987, NAF's Hospitality and Tourism theme was launched with the opening of two pilot Academies, one in Miami, Florida and another in Richmond Hill, New York, with support from the American Express Foundation.
In 2000 NAF piloted a third theme, opening Academies of Information Technology in 12 high schools across the country with support from Lucent, AT&T Corporation, United Technologies, GTE/Verizon, Oracle, Computer Associates and Compaq.
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