General Questions

The Canyon Education Foundation (CEF), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, is a volunteer parent and community group that raises money for the Canyon Elementary School. CEF funds go directly to the school to pay for core operations and to fill the gap between state funding and the actual costs of keeping the Canyon School open and thriving.

CEF was founded in 2003 and has provided a means for parents to invest in superior public education for their children. 

Every gift helps ensure Canyon can continue providing the exceptional educational experience families value today while protecting the school's long-term future. When you support CEF, you're investing in every Canyon student.

Donating extra resources is hard. We totally get it.
Consider donating monthly or weekly to make the bulk donation seem less intimidating.
Consider extending your pool. Donations made in your honor count toward your student's goal. If a grandparent, an aunt, a family friend, or a former teacher gives in honor of your child, that gift counts toward your child's $3,000, not just the general fund. 

Help keep Canyon thriving by volunteering your time or professional skills. Whether it's campus maintenance, landscaping, lunch duty, field trips, or school events, every contribution makes a difference. Canyon School operates under the help of parent volunteers.

- Reach out to the Canyon Volunteer Coordinator to help with a lunch duty/supervision.
- Reach out to your room parent if there are opportunities to help in the classroom.
- Donate your time for a school funded event (Walk-a-thon, carnival, work day etc.)

Yes! Many employers will match your gift dollar-for-dollar and CEF can help you unlock it. Share your employer's details and we'll walk you through every step, with all the info and paperwork ready to go. Share your info with us now cef@canyon.education

CEF supports essential needs across the school, including:

• Classroom teachers and instructional staff

• Student intervention and individualized support

• Art, Capoeira, and other enrichment programs

• Small-group instruction and personalized learning

• Classroom technology and learning resources

• Professional development for teachers

• School operations, maintenance, insurance, and compliance

• Administrative services needed to operate both a school and an independent public school district

CEF is the nonprofit organization that helps sustain Canyon School. Donations provide critical funding for the people, programs, and operations that make Canyon's small, personalized public-school experience possible.

CATSS is Canyon's parent volunteer organization, dedicated to supporting the school through volunteering and fundraising. CATSS organizes many of the school's signature events, supports teachers and staff, and raises funds for programs such as field trips and other student experiences. 

No. State funding does not cover the full cost of maintaining Canyon's current staffing, programs, and personalized educational model. CEF bridges that funding gap and is an essential financial partner to the school.

Canyon is one of California's smallest public school districts, with one school and one locally elected governing board. Its small size allows students to be well known, families to stay closely connected, and decisions to be made locally—but it also means operating costs are spread across fewer students.

California school funding is based largely on Average Daily Attendance (ADA). Every student and every day of attendance matter. Even a small number of absences can reduce funding available for teachers, programs, and school operations.

CEF doesn't simply fund "extras." Community contributions help sustain the teachers, staff, programs, and day-to-day operations that keep Canyon running. They help preserve Canyon's independence, local governance, and personalized learning environment.

Yes! We'd love to host your next event at the school. Contact cef@canyon.education.com to learn more.

Here. There's also extra forms in our cubby at school.

See below charts for transparency.

See below chart for transparency.