The Opportunity Institute

Co-founded in 2015 by the late Christopher Edley, Jr. and Ann O’Leary, The Opportunity Institute promoted social mobility and equity by improving outcomes from early childhood through early career. The nonprofit focused on education, which plays a critical role in opening opportunities, and the related social policies that make true opportunity possible. They brought together leaders in early childhood development, Pre-K through 12 education, juvenile and criminal justice, and higher education to collaborate across policy sectors for broader and deeper impact.  

The Opportunity Institute advanced pragmatic, evidence-based solutions that combatted inequality and built stronger, more equitable ladders to success. 

In October 2024, The Opportunity Institute became a project of Children Now, continuing its mission of advancing equity for children and confronting the barriers that stand in their way of reaching their full potential.  

Through the Adolescent Learning and Development Project, The Opportunity Institute made instrumental advances in equity for middle and high school students. In school districts and communities across California, the organization worked with leaders across sectors to forge strong and impactful partnerships that have produced meaningful and sustainable transformation in education. Children Now will continue that work – with support from special advisor Maria Echaveste – by examining how post-pandemic investments in California’s youth have been used to address learning loss, drive improvement through innovative models like community schools, and lay the foundation for more equitable education.