In 2004, we expanded our efforts to Central Texas, where Applied’s second largest U.S. site is located, and more recently, scaled education-focused support to other U.S. cities where Applied has a significant employee base, including Portland, Oregon; Gloucester, Massachusetts; and Kalispell, Montana. Through its long-term relationships with local community-based organizations, schools and school districts, Applied’s efforts have helped close the scholastic achievement gap for thousands of at-risk students. Key Strategies Early in the development of the Education Initiative, Applied identified key strategies which proved to be the foundation of success and expansion for the initiative. These now serve as a model for Applied’s ongoing support of education. Engage Experts One of Applied’s corporate values is to be a most valued partner, collaborating broadly to solve our customers’ high-value problems faster and better. We utilize this core business strategy in our community grantmaking, working in partnership with proven organizations and community leaders to improve educational outcomes for socioeconomically disadvantaged youth. Support the Education Pathway The Education Initiative is founded on a research-based, education pathway strategy that defines the critical leverage points and charts progress metrics. These key inflection points are: ■ Entering kindergarten ready to learn and succeed ■ Performing at grade level in English language arts and mathematics in early elementary school ■ Staying on academic track in middle school, including successfully preparing for high school algebra ■ Pursuing a college-preparatory curriculum in high school We understand that a child’s desire to learn and to stay in school typically is directly related to the level of preparedness when entering kindergarten, a progressive and engaging learning environment, strong language skills, and parental support and encouragement to succeed. Teacher preparedness, high-quality professional development opportunities, and participation in professional learning communities are key tools in the pursuit of educational equity. Create Flexible, Innovative and Tailored Programs We recognize that each school district has diverse needs and one child’s path to success may differ greatly from another’s. Unlike other corporate-driven educational enrichment programs that focus on a single intervention or program regardless of district or region, Applied works closely with each school district to identify strategic funding priorities based on school and community context. This approach acknowledges that there is no one-size- fits-all approach to education, and encourages school district efforts to pilot innovative programs aimed at improving student educational outcomes. 3 | Applied Materials Education Initiative