The Opportunity Trust

Applications are now open to join the STL Pre-K Cooperative! This growing network of local Pre-K experts helps deliver funding, resources, and guidance to Pre-K providers looking to start up, expand, or improve their practice. Applications are now open to join the Cooperative - all providers serving children ages 3-5 are welcome in our work to expand access to high-quality Pre-K education for all of the residents of St. Louis City and County. We encourage anyone interested to join one of the upcoming info sessions: 💻Thursday 10/10, 2-3:30 PM via Zoom 📍Wednesday 11/6, 6:30-8:00 PM at the Delmar Divine (dinner will be served!) Learn more and register for an info session at https://lnkd.in/euP3JmXH #StLouis #Prek #ECE #EarlyLearning #STLPreKCooperative #StLouisSchools

Last call for nominations! We're looking for passionate community members to join our Reinvention by Community Selection Committee. This is a unique chance to make an impact in the lives of students and families in St. Louis. Learn more and submit your nomination today! https://lnkd.in/gahPpZZR #ReinventionByCommunity #GrantOpportunity #InnovativeSolutions #Entrepreneurs #StLouisEntrepreneurs #SelectionCommittee

The Opportunity Trust has awarded over $2.8 million in funding to three innovative charter public schools as part of the Expanding Opportunities: Missouri Charter School Program (CSP). These grants will create over 5,000 new enrollment opportunities, expanding access to quality education in Missouri! Congratulations to: 🌍 St. Louis Language Immersion School (SLLIS): Pre-K expansion, $380,873.84 🔬Gateway Science Academies: School expansion, $1,657,642.77 💻 Brookside Charter School: Hybrid virtual learning, $816,827.22 Learn more about these grant recipients and their plans for the funding in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/g5CGe2kR #CSP #CharterSchoolProgram #ExpandingOpportunity #CharterSchools #MissouriSchools #PublicCharterSchools #GrantAnnouncement Jesse Dixon Kelly Sales Meghan Hill Engin Blackstone Gateway Science Academy High School Concept Schools

Today may be the last day of National Literacy Month, but our work to promote literacy for the students of St. Louis is just getting started. There are a variety of efforts underway to encourage students, families, and schools across the region to adopt practices promoting literacy, but we are especially grateful to Carol Daniel for this in-depth interview with Black Men Read STL co-founder Keyon Watkins because while we know literacy is a challenge across demographics, Black St. Louisans are disproportionately affected by lack of access to high-quality literacy education. Please check out this incredibly powerful interview that explores some of the root causes behind the literacy gap, as well as some solutions already underway in our community. https://lnkd.in/eEiP29JT #LiteracyMonth #NationalLiteracyMonth #LiteracyInstruction #BlackMenRead #ListenStLouis #Literacy #LiteracyInstruction #LoveReading

When parents are engaged, students thrive. Sheilah Bass, a member of Bridge 2 Hope's Grandparent Action Team, highlights the importance of family support in education and how it can change the course of a child’s success! #ItTakesAVilllage #FamilyInvolvementInEducation #Collaboration #STLSchools #Bridge2Hope #HighQualityEducation #Thrive #StudentSupport

Do you know someone passionate about making a difference in education and racial equity in St. Louis? We are seeking nominations for our Reinvention by Community Selection Committee! This is a paid opportunity to help guide impactful decisions on innovative solutions. Nominations are open now until October 4. https://lnkd.in/gahPpZZR #ReinventionByCommunity #GrantOpportunity #InnovativeSolutions #Entrepreneurs #StLouisEntrepreneurs #SelectionCommittee

The Opportunity Trust is excited to announce, in partnership with Emerson, the launch of the Emerson Early Literacy Challenge. This initiative will provide funding, expert support, and resources to selected Local Education Agencies (LEAs) in St. Louis as they work to close the third-grade reading proficiency gap. LEAs can now apply to be part of this transformative two-year program -- applications are open through September 26, 2024. Learn more and apply today at https://lnkd.in/gHgtF-Wi

🎉What an incredible week for the team at BELIEVE STL Academy as they hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially commemorate their opening. Our team members were happy to attend and celebrate with BELIEVE's supporters, staff, and students, and it was so cool to see other local charters and districts represented at the event, sharing their wisdom and encouragement with St. Louis' newest school. We were also inspired by the support from BJC HealthCare who has donated a state-of-the-art simulation lab complete with hospital beds, diagnostic tools, and lifelike mannequins, that will give students real-world experience as a foundation for careers in the medical field. Congrats again to the BELIEVE community, we're so thrilled to work alongside you to raise the bar for what's possible for students in our city. #BELIEVE #WeBELIEVE #StLouisSchools #CharterSchools #Community

Happy National Hispanic Heritage Month to all! Though the St. Louis region has not historically been home to a large Latinx population, it has been home to a vibrant, diverse, and growing community, and as St. Louis Public Radio recently reported, we know Latinx families and students are poised to play an even bigger role in our neighborhoods -- and schools -- in the coming decades! Join us in celebrating and honoring St. Louis' Latinx students, families, and communities as we work together to ensure students from all backgrounds have access to the education and future they deserve. https://lnkd.in/gsAXz-cX #HispanicHeritageMonth #HispanicAndLatinoHeritageMonth #Latinx #StLouisEnEspanol

Today is National Voter Registration Day! As we near election season, it is important that you register to vote (or double-check your registration) to ensure you're able to exercise your power and participate in critical local, state, and national elections. A key tenet of our work is empowering people to lead the charge in building the type of world they wish to see. Voting in local elections is a critical way to make sure your voice is heard as we collectively determine who holds the power to make decisions regarding our communities. Check out https://lnkd.in/g_3vePg to learn more about the importance of voting, find resources to help understand what is at stake in the upcoming election cycle, and ensure your registration is current. We know that voting is not the only way to make real change and drive toward the future, but it is certainly an important one. #Vote #NationalVoterRegistrationDay #VoterRegistration #ElectionSeason #EmpowerCommunities #MakeYourVoiceHeard