In 2000, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) awarded the first million-dollar grant to the Tucson Unified School District to implement OMA and evaluate its ability to increase teacher effectiveness and improve test scores. USDOE also challenged OMA to become self-sustaining and to expand if the program proved to be successful. OMA’s successes have been documented by independent research. One suggestion made by USDOE was that OMA establish a foundation. Members of the original OMA Advisory Board decided to act on this suggestion.

In April of 2004, the newly formed OMA Foundation Board of Directors was notified by the IRS that the Foundation had officially been granted 501(c)3 status. Since then, the foundation has been able to move forward in its mission of supporting Opening Minds through the Arts. As of July 2006, the OMA Foundation has gained the support of a number of prominent foundations and individuals in order to assist TUSD support and expand OMA, which now serves over 17,000 students in 37 TUSD schools. In addition, OMA provides consulting services to other school districts in Arizona. If you would like to know more about the foundation, please contact Executive Director Shirley Kiser at shirley.kiser@tusd.org, (520) 225-4656.