The Lawrence Partnership’s Post

The Michigan Essentials for Childhood (MI-EfC) program has released an RFP. This is an opportunity for community organizations to receive a $7,000 grant to support the development, distribution, and evaluation of a public education campaign to prevent, address, or build resilience around Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). Please read the full announcement here: https://lnkd.in/g_EnK3tq. Feel free to share this within your community! Apply Now: https://lnkd.in/gS2es7fS

Meet Aubree, an ACC AmeriCorps Member serving as a Digital Navigator in Power County. Aubree looks forward to helping people by providing support for accessing affordable and appropriate internet connectivity, devices and digital skills. In partnership with American Connection Corps (ACC) the AmeriCorps program of Lead For America, and with support from the Idaho Commission for Libraries, University of Idaho Extension Digital Economy Program has placed 6 Digital Navigators throughout the state of Idaho. They will play a crucial role in bridging the digital divide by providing skills training, outreach, support as they work alongside local leaders and community partners to improve digital access and opportunity in Idaho. To contact Aubree about services in Power County or to see if a Digital Navigator is in your community, visit https://lnkd.in/gHDPj332 #DigitalNavigator #techhelp #ACC #AmeriCorps #digitalskills #digitaltraining #powercountyidaho #americanfallsidaho #uidahoextension

Thanks to American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding, Will County has helped expand access to library services in several local communities. These include the Aurora Public Library District and the Manhattan-Elwood Public Library District, who cut the ribbon on two significant projects this year! The Manhattan-Elwood Library District recently opened their new branch in downtown Elwood, providing 24/7 contactless access to library materials, essential digital services for residents without home internet or computers, a children’s reading area, and printing services. Similarly, Aurora Public Library District opened their first pickup locker this year, which opens access to library materials to residents on the southeast side of Aurora. Read more about the new branch: https://lnkd.in/g2RSNVKX Read more about the pickup lockers: https://lnkd.in/gWQzqT8U

Explore our latest issue of Notes from the Learning! In this newsletter, we share how we are reflecting on our collective futures — living, learning, and being together in new ways — through partnerships called Learning Exchanges. ❓What’s inside? Swipe right to try a learning practice, apply to join our Youth Board, and learn more about our special edition newsletters. 🔗 Read the full newsletter and join the community ➡️ https://bit.ly/4dy3dko

Today is the day to stand up for our children.   New York State is in the process of modernizing the school aid funding formula which determines how many dollars go to educate the children of each school district. It is estimated that the East Ramapo Central School District has been shortchanged approximately $20 million ANNUALLY for the past 20 years, due in part to a formula that does not account for the high percentage of nonpublic school students and the high cost of living in East Ramapo.   I urge EVERYONE who has a stake in the future of our children to respond to the Rockefeller Institute’s survey (the Albany based think tank that was contracted to make recommendations to Governor Hochul and the Legislature). If you live in East Ramapo, or are connected to the world of education in any way, PLEASE make your voice heard and advocate for increased funding for the East Ramapo Central School District.   The funding formula is outdated and flawed and has been calculating student poverty rates using data from the 2000 Census, does not reflect the growing numbers of students with disabilities and their different needs, and does not reflect the rising costs of educating immigrant students, migrant students and others with limited English proficiency, etc. These students have varied degrees of educational attainment, including newly arrived students with no prior formal education. This is our opportunity to change the funding landscape for all residents, parents, public school and nonpublic school children and ensure an equitable future. Share your comments here:   https://lnkd.in/e89k8MG2

Save the date! ✅ Access the NEW Roadmap ✅ Preview an upcoming 5-year lookback on state progress ✅ Hear from states building momentum ✅ Learn about new research on early literacy, income supports, etc. ✅ Gain insights for advancing policies in 2025 https://bit.ly/3Xb9BaX

Over 100,000 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) forms were completed thanks to the work of The City University of New York's Financial Aid Support Team (CUNY FAST)! The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation provided the seed funding to address the crisis with FAFSA delays. Grouptrail powered their initiative by providing student texting tools and a program tracking database and working with CUNY FAST Project Director Shaquinah Taylor Wright. Learn more about the impact of CUNY FAST: https://lnkd.in/g4aRgWDg

NEW from our partners at RAND: What were U.S. public school districts doing to help students recover academically from pandemic-related setbacks during the past school year? To find out, RAND researchers surveyed 190 American School District Panel member districts about what interventions (e.g., tutoring, additional staff, additional instruction time) they were still using during the 2023–24 school year to address students’ learning recovery. Districts were also asked about their expected revenues in future school years and what cuts, if any, they plan to make because of the expiration of federal stimulus funds. Learn more and check out the full report ⬇

It's a chilling statistic, but it's all too believable that Colchester Library has seen over 50 anti-social behaviour incidents in the last three months including an assault on a librarian. I've spoken with libraries across the UK who have recently seen an increase in anti-social behaviour in their branches. It's disappointing that libraries are having to resort to measures such as body-worn cameras and security guards, but they are becoming vital safety measures for staff. Little Green Button can also be useful in helping staff members receive assistance from colleagues quickly. Libraries should be a safe place for everyone to visit - and of course, staff shouldn't have to face the threat of verbal or physical assault at work. Local authorities should be taking action to keep libraries at the centre of our communities by making more funding available for security measures and deterrents. On a more positive note, Webster Public Library, one of our customers in New York, have used our Big Green Buttons (the physical version of our panic alarm system) to improve patron service. When a patron needs help with a computer issue, they simply hit the Big Green Button and a staff member comes to their aid - ingenious! I hope that UK libraries can use our technology in this way more than they have to use it to get assistance during anti-social incidents or violence. Read more about Webster Public Library here:

Unlocking potential: How Department of Education grants and cooperative agreements enhance funding impact and streamline procurement for educational success. https://hubs.la/Q030Fgx90