St. Louis Public Schools Foundation Develops Roadmap to Progress in Urban Education
ST. LOUIS (PRWEB) June 05, 2018 -- Almost every major city across the nation has a foundation that supports its public schools. Issues in urban education are abundant and while many acknowledge them, few have presented successful solutions—until now.
The St. Louis Public Schools Foundation, implemented in 1998, serves as both a strategy and fundraising partner to the St. Louis District. Working directly with the District, the Foundation identified four critical areas within St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) in need of financial and community support. From obtaining funding from Fortune 500 Companies like Enterprise Holdings, Boeing, Monsanto, and Wells Fargo to attracting individual donors—the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation has raised more than $18 million since 2015.
“St. Louis is a very generous town,” notes Jane Donahue, President of the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation. “We are proud to see people investing in the 23,000 students of SLPS and of the progress the District is making. If St. Louis is going to be a first rate town, we need an education system to match it; we recognize there’s more work to be done.”
The St. Louis Public Schools Foundation worked closely with the District to create and launch its strategic plan, and invests in areas that the District has identified as key levers for accelerating success.
STEP 1: Sustain Quality Early Childhood Education. With Foundation support, SLPS is making substantial investments to expand its early childhood education program to more than 2,100 children. Last year, SLPS early childhood education was near full enrollment, and 80% of 2016 Pre-K graduates enrolled in SLPS elementary schools. The program helps students accelerate achievement: 3rd graders who participated in SLPS Pre-K programs performed better in state tests in 2016 than their peers who did not attend SLPS Pre-K.
STEP 2: Strengthen College & Career Readiness. The Foundation is working with the District to expand ACT preparation and create College and Career Readiness Centers that provide college advising in ALL high schools. The Foundation also helped launch the Early College Academy that empowers 60 students to complete their junior and senior year of high school and get a start on earning their college degrees at St. Louis Community College. These investments are paying off for SLPS graduates, with four-year college enrollment increasing from 30% in 2014 to 34% in 2016 and career/technical education placement increasing from 49% to 65%.
STEP 3: Attract and Retain Excellent School Leaders. The Foundation is supporting programs to ensure that all schools have dedicated, dynamic, and effective leaders. Recent results show that 98% of effective school leaders are staying in the District, and 90% of recently hired principals achieved an average of 10% growth in student reading scores, exceeding the District average.
STEP 4: Promote Student Well-Being. The Foundation is working with the District to address mental and physical health issues. Recent efforts include the implementation of community-developed health and wellness plans in 11 elementary schools; intensive, cohort-based training in 30 schools to develop trauma-sensitive school environments; and partnering with the St. Louis Children’s Hospital to embed full-time nurses and behavioral health specialists in four high-need schools.
About the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation
Since 1997, the St. Louis Public Schools Foundation has existed to mobilize the community’s generosity and to support the amazing educators and students within the Saint Louis Public Schools. The St. Louis Public Schools Foundation is the District’s strategy partner with the unique mission of dedicating 100% of its funds and efforts to District strategy. The Foundation works closely with the Saint Louis Public Schools Superintendent, District leadership, and schools to ensure that the community’s resources support District priorities.
Kaylyn Blackmore, Lents and Associates, 3149683060, [email protected]
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