Welcome to today’s episode, where we discuss the recent news surrounding Mark Zuckerberg's decision to close The Primary School, a tuition-free institution aimed at supporting low-income families and communities of color. Established in 2016 alongside his wife, Priscilla Chan, the school recognized the systemic barriers faced by these families, saying, “Because of systemic racism, communities of color are disproportionately affected.”

However, a decade later, the school announced it would shutter next year, citing lack of funding as the reason. This comes amid a changing political landscape and Zuckerberg's recent alignment with the Trump administration’s anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion stance. Earlier this year, Zuckerberg's Meta cut DEI programs, and similar actions were taken by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative.

For many families, the impact is profound. Veronica Van Leeuwaarde, a parent of students at the school, expressed her concerns, saying, “Honestly, just talking about it makes me want to cry, because it’s just impacted my family so much.” While the school offers families between $1,000 to $10,000 to help find new placements, the average private school tuition in California is significantly higher.

With donations dropping from $8 million to $3.7 million in just one year, it's curious that the school, backed by billionaires, couldn’t secure the necessary funding to continue. As this story unfolds, we’ll keep an eye on the implications for the families who relied on its support.
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