September 28, 2018
For students around the country, September marks the end of summer and the start of Back to School season.
In celebration of this time of year, we’d like to take this opportunity to highlight the great work that nonprofits throughout the sector are doing in the Education space.
Many nonprofit organizations around the country are working from different angles using a variety of program models to ensure education in the U.S. is effective, accessible, and equitable. At Elevate, we believe that progress is possible through the important work that nonprofits do, and we see proof of this every day through the work and dedication of our education-focused clients.
Below are just a few examples of the work our clients are doing to better their communities and ensure high quality education for all.
DC Scholars Community Schools inspires and empowers school leaders through expert thought partnership, operational support, and programmatic strategy — ensuring a stable, high-impact, well-resourced environment in which scholars and families of Southeast DC succeed. Its work embodies its belief that in order to truly prepare scholars for success in college and beyond, they must create schools that not only deliver rigorous instruction, but also serve as communities of joy where students thrive. DC Scholars Community Schools’ vision is for each of its schools to become a true community school that offers supports and opportunities for students, their families, and their communities.
The Edcamp Foundation builds and supports communities of empowered educators across the United States through peer-led, participant-driven professional learning opportunities. They provide an organizational platform for educators to engage in local learning events using an “unconference” model, while building a nationwide network of teachers to share best practices. The end result of an Edcamp event is engaged, empowered, and prepared teachers who adopt effective methods in their classrooms and become leaders and change agents in their schools.
The Literacy Lab’s mission is to provide low-income children with individualized reading instruction to improve their literacy skills, leading to greater success in school and increased opportunities in life. The Literacy Lab recognizes that many high-need schools are faced with the challenge of both an achievement gap and a resource gap; their approach to this challenge is to provide schools with evidence-based literacy intervention and assessment tools, rigorously trained full-time tutors to implement the model, and a coaching and support structure that ensures the success of the program and students. In the 2017-18 school year alone, over 220 full-time Literacy Lab tutors helped over 4,000 students in over 100 schools every day. This year, The Literacy Lab is going back-to-school with partners in Washington, DC, Kansas City, Missouri, Richmond, Virginia, Baltimore, Maryland, Springfield, Massachusetts, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Philadelphia Education Fund (Ed Fund) has been working to move the needle on public education in Philadelphia for more than three decades. They work to remove barriers to college and career success for students by offering a full complement of research-based programs and services. Through their experienced and committed staff, the Philadelphia Education Fund continues to address the ever-changing academic standards, emerging educational trends, and shifting regional workforce needs through college advising, scholarships, and STEM career exposure. The Ed Fund currently serves 17,000 students across Philadelphia, with programs in 27 schools.
The Education Law Center’s mission is to ensure access to a quality public education for all children in Pennsylvania. They pursue this mission by advocating on behalf of the most vulnerable students — children living in poverty, children of color, children in the foster care and juvenile justice systems, children with disabilities, English Language Learners, LGBTQ students, and children experiencing homelessness. ELC employs a broad range of strategies to accomplish this mission, including direct legal representation, impact litigation, educating parents and students about their legal rights, supporting community-based groups, and policy advocacy at the local, state, and federal levels.
About the Author:
Michelle Anthony LaCroix
