The National Scholastic Chess Foundation (the NSCF) has been “on the ground” in Sunrise and Broward County since the Fall of 2014. The fundamental philosophy has been focused on expanding the power of chess to benefit ALL students, not just those traditionally served in academic environments, and building chess mentoring through proven chess teaching methods by a world-recognized chess instructor.

The NSCF is a non-profit educational organization that develops and proves effective teaching methodologies using chess to enhance overall educational achievement for students of all ages and abilities. Working with diverse populations from affluent private schools to the poorest public schools, with children diagnosed with learning disabilities, children deemed academically gifted and every group in between, for over 25 years NSCF staff members have shown that chess is a tool that helps students develop independent study, problem-solving and critical thinking skills and educators attain positive learning outcomes in all core subject areas. Local partners in Broward County include the Broward Education Foundation, Children’s Services Council, the Sheriff’s Foundation of Broward County and The City of Sunrise.

In Broward County, the NSCF first focused on teacher training. Inspired by the City of Sunrise and working under the umbrella of the Broward Education Foundation, the NSCF created a series of workshops to teach the community (including teachers, principals, child care providers, community organizations, law enforcement, volunteers, “parks and rec” staff, and community leaders) how to teach and/or mentor chess in school and community programs. Already over 370 people, including many Sunrise teachers, parents and student-mentors have been trained.