ERA FAQs: Your Education Revolution Questions Answered

FAQs: Education Revolution Association

Learn more about the Education Revolution Association, our value pillars, and how we're working to make a difference in American education. (Click on any of the questions below to jump to the FAQ answers.)

photo of two high school students walking together (ERA FAQs page)
photo of high school students working at a table with their teacher (ERA FAQs page)

What is ERA’s mission?

Our mission is to catalyze a transformation in American education by providing educators and students with tools, guidance and support to thrive in an ever-changing world.  (Read more about our mission and vision.)

What is the Education Revolution Association?

ERA is a nonprofit envisioning an education system that prepares students for the realities of life after school. We are supporting teachers and schools to join with government officials and foundations to drive meaningful change in education. 

What are the Three Pillars?

ERA's work is shaped around our three pillars:

  • Self & Career Discovery: Students learn their strengths and weaknesses and are introduced to career pathways that suit their interests and aptitudes. 
  • Understanding of Others: Students practice kindness and compassion in an increasingly divisive world. 
  • Maximizing Individual Potential: Students understand where they excel, know their limitations, and push themselves to nurture their capabilities. 
For more information on each of these pillars, visit our Pillars page!

How are you making the changes you envision?

The ERA team is working with experts to develop curriculum that empowers students to pursue life with confidence and curiosity by understanding their strengths, exploring best-fit career pathways, and applying critical and creative thinking skills. 

Why education?

Research shows that 4 out of 10 graduating high schoolers feel unprepared to make a career choice or select a college major,¹ and 30% are not following any planned educational or career path.² 

Too many young adults are entering the workforce unprepared for life after graduation, unclear about their own strengths and weaknesses, and unsure about their place in a complex world. Studies show that 6 in 10 young adults feel their lives lack meaning and purpose,³ and 80% feel they would have been more engaged in school if they better understood their own aptitudes and potential career opportunities.⁴ 

What makes ERA different from other education-focused non-profits?

Many organizations and educational initiatives have advocated for change—but their impact has been limited by the fragmented nature of the approach. These entities across the nation work toward change but rarely unite under a common goal. ERA seeks to consolidate the life skills taught in these programs in a single course: Life Discovery. 

Who founded ERA?

ERA was founded by Fred Ode, a former Ohio public school teacher turned entrepreneur and philanthropist who saw the need to make a change in schools. Read more about Fred's journey!

How is ERA funded?

ERA is currently 100% funded personally by Fred Ode and Kathy Ode. We are actively working with all levels of government to broaden access to the Life Discovery class.
painted bust portrait of Fred Ode in a cowboy hat with orange paint streaks behind him

Still Want to Know More About ERA?

Have a question about the Education Revolution Association that we didn't cover above? Or want to get in touch with us about starting a Life Discovery class in your school district? Let us know at our contact page!

Get in Touch!