An update on our Washington state education work

Dear partners,

I’m writing to share an update about the Washington State and U.S. Charters teams that I lead at the Gates Foundation, and about my own next steps.

Over the last several months, the Gates Foundation’s U.S. Program leadership team has been taking a hard look at what education needs to deliver over the next 20 years, in light of Bill Gates’ decision to close the foundation in 2045. As part of that work, we identified a critical set of student milestones that matter most for long-term success—especially the transition from high school into postsecondary education and credentials that carry real value in the job market.

Looking at those priorities, and what it will take to make the greatest possible impact before completing our work, we concluded this is the right moment to begin evolving our Washington State education work. We will be transitioning from a structured, single strategy to a more integrated approach, embedding the work across the U.S. Program division. The Washington State team will make this transition by 2030. The Charters work will move to a different team within the U.S. Program; that timeline has not yet been decided.

Alongside this shift, I also want to share that I will be transitioning out of my role at the Gates Foundation over the course of the year. I’ve loved my time at the Gates Foundation, but at a moment with so much political uncertainty, I feel a strong pull to return to on-the-ground advocacy and education work that is closer to my community and the 1.1 million students that we serve. I’m making this decision with a lot of confidence in the direction of the work and in the leadership of the team I’ve had the honor of leading for the last four years. The timing feels right because the work is strong, the relationships are deep, and the team is well positioned to carry this forward under a new structure over the coming years.

I want to be clear: this is my decision and comes from a place of strength. There is real momentum in Washington state, driven by the work of my team, our partners, and educators working alongside students every day. Last year, our Horizons partners saw a 10-point jump in FAFSA completion—4 points better than the state average. Students in charter schools are closing gaps: Black students scored 16 points higher in English and 19 points higher in Math than their district peers; Latino students, 10 points higher in English and 14 points in Math. This progress didn't happen by accident.

Together, we’ve built strong relationships with schools, colleges, community organizations, funders, and state leaders who are committed to closing the gap between the high aspirations students hold after high school and the number who are actually able to take that next step. Just as important, we’ve made sure student voices and local priorities are shaping how success is defined.

Washington will keep serving as a testing ground for ideas that then scale nationally. For example, our national Education Pathways team recently worked with the organization CARA to build a framework defining the ideal advising experience for students. The Washington State team partnered with CARA to adapt it for use here, and those lessons fed back into the national work. That kind of back-and-forth will continue, just under a different structure inside the foundation.

Our Community Engagement team will also continue to provide responsive grants to local nonprofits in the Greater Seattle region.

I’ve always believed my most important role is to support people so they can do their best work—and to know when it’s time to step aside. For me, this also marks a natural moment in my own journey. I’ve often talked about wanting to be a good ancestor. That phrase has always guided my work: build something strong, then step back so others can carry it forward. Right now, the team is ready. The relationships are strong. Knowing that makes my next step of returning to on-the-ground advocacy feel right.

We don’t have every detail worked out yet, and I know that means some uncertainty for our partners as well. I can promise that we’ll make this transition gradually and in close coordination with you. For now, the work will continue at its normal rhythm, and the Washington State and U.S. Charters teams will continue to manage investments and partner relationships as we integrate the work throughout the U.S. Program. We expect to have more information to share in March or April. I’ll remain fully engaged through the transition and focused on supporting the team and our partners as this work moves forward. The success of students in Washington state is my highest priority, and I will keep my foot on the gas pedal while I’m here.

I’m deeply grateful for the partnership, honesty, and shared commitment you’ve brought to this work. The relationships and progress we’ve built together will continue to matter, and I’ll always be proud of what we’ve done alongside one another.

With appreciation,
Angela Jones