Wonderspring Early Education’s Post

Back in action! Our Thrive program is buzzing at KIPP Chicago, early learners on a heartwarming book drive, and huge thanks to Child Champions for raising $33,731 in our Hope for the Holidays Campaign. Let's make 2024 a year of progress for education, health, and equity. Check out our January Newsletter and see what we are up to. #chicagokids #cpachicagokids #CPAkids #positiveimpact #communitysupport #communitystrong #newsletter

Back in action! Our Thrive program is buzzing at KIPP Chicago, early learners on a heartwarming book drive, and huge thanks to Child Champions for raising $33,731 in our Hope for the Holidays Campaign. Let's make 2024 a year of progress for education, health, and equity. Check out our January Newsletter and see what we are up to. #chicagokids #cpachicagokids #CPAkids #positiveimpact #communitysupport #communitystrong #newsletter

🎉 Big News from the Student Basic Needs Coalition! 🎉 We’re excited to share that SBNC has been awarded a $100,000 grant from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. This grant will enable us to expand our peer navigator program to more community colleges, helping thousands of students gain access to SNAP benefits and tackle food insecurity. Community colleges are a vital gateway to education for students from low-income backgrounds, yet many eligible students still face barriers to receiving SNAP benefits. The SNAP gap—where students miss out on benefits they’re entitled to—can have serious consequences, from increased stress to lower academic performance. Thanks to this generous grant, we’re expanding our peer navigator program, where student leaders with lived experience guide their peers through the SNAP application process. These peer navigators play a critical role in reducing stigma and making the process more accessible. We’re also creating a new full-time Campus Program Manager role to oversee these efforts and ensure more students get the support they need. This initiative is about more than just increasing SNAP enrollment—it’s about creating a sustainable model that can be replicated across other schools, amplifying our impact. We’re incredibly grateful to the Annie E. Casey Foundation for their commitment to this crucial work. Stay connected with us as we continue to push forward in our mission to make college more affordable and accessible for all students. Learn more about this initiative and how you can get involved: https://lnkd.in/gsYfE7dz #SocialJustice #StudentAdvocacy #SNAPGap #FoodInsecurity #CommunityColleges #StudentLeaders #SBNC #HigherEducation #CollegeAccess #PeerSupport #NonprofitOrganization #EducationEquity #StudentSuccess #CampusCommunity #AdvocacyWork #SocialImpact #StudentAffairs

Today is Cares Day, Cal Lutheran’s annual day of giving. I’ve never seen a place more dedicated to student success, and we could use your help. There is a direct line between donors and the programs and services which serve students. Here’s a quick story to illustrate that line.   Back when I was a student, I remember sleeping through an early morning Calculus class (probably following a late night coding session). Later that day, I got a call from my professor wondering where I was and what she could do to make sure I made it to the next class (shout out to Dr. Klassen). That kind of support matters, and it just doesn’t happen at many schools; especially big ones. That is part of why Cal Lutheran outperforms other schools in both graduation rates and the time it takes to graduate.   Take that experience with my Calculus professor, and extend it to financial aid, clubs, athletics, performing arts, DREAMERS, education abroad, student employment, ministry, adult degree programs, disability support services, and more. Across the board, faculty and staff at CLU know our students, and that creates a vested interest in their success.   Cares Day is an opportunity for donors to help support those efforts. We do not have access to many sources of funding available to public schools, so this is an important day. Check out the link below to learn more. Thank you for your support!   #CalLutheranCares   https://lnkd.in/guFJ_bm2

Happy Friday, my LinkedIn friends. Well, my beloved Blue Devils are gone from men and women’s #MarchMadness tournament. At this point I’m sure, many of your brackets are probably busted (like mine). As we head into the last few games, I’m thinking about my #FinalFour with a slightly different lens.  Last year, I was all about the sweet sixteen.  This year it’s the final four for children and families.  At the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, we believe that all families, no matter their background, should have access to the resources they need to raise thriving children. On Healthy Children and Families we pursue grantmaking and programming in four strategies and focal points to make that vision a reality: Care As a Public Good Agenda Setting Leadership and Power Inspiring Change for a New Economic Vision Collective Responsibility for Family Wellbeing We need all four in order to cut down the nets…and advance inclusive economic structures, policies, and practices that ensure families can thrive. There may be high stakes on the court, but there are higher stakes for the nation if we don't make it right for children and families.

HOW IS CAMDEN’S INNOVATIVE SCHOOL SYSTEM MOVING THE NEEDLE FOR NEW JERSEY STUDENTS? “Amid all the bad news in the post-pandemic public education sphere, there is a bright spot in a surprising city, Camden, New Jersey. There, students, while suffering steep learning losses so common in low-income districts, are finding their way forward through the collaboration of three different public school sectors: district, charter, and an unusual hybrid called “renaissance schools.” These renaissance schools, authorized by a law that let Camden approve partnerships with high-performing, nonprofit charter school networks willing to take on the lowest-performing schools, are driving the city’s learning gains. As such, the story of Camden’s “comeback,” described in a new report by Camden Education Fund, provides a blueprint for an innovative model of public education, not just in New Jersey but throughout the country.” Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gNxe-PTB #schooldistricts #education #renaissanceschools

Are we helping or hurting? That is a question many residents of San Francisco ask ourselves in the midst of a stark and increasing equity gap. As a parent, community member, and incoming board member of the Horizons at San Francisco Friends School, I’m keenly aware of the potential learning loss our public school students in the Mission District experience in the summer months without our support. Our city is undergoing another crisis - looming budget cuts threaten vital programs like Horizons at SFFS that provide equitable learning for Mission youth. We urgently need your support to secure bridge funding and ensure our summer enrichment continues. Our scholars and families are relying on Horizons' high-quality academics and social-emotional growth.  Horizons has been successfully leveraging the months when students are out of school to stem summer learning loss for children in San Francisco for ~10 years. The program has also intentionally increased impact by supporting their scholars through their educational journey during the school year and into High School. Last year, Horizons impacted 150+ scholars with targeted small classroom instruction, confidence-building, and joyful community enrichment experiences- thanks to our dedicated summer education workforce. But we can't continue without you. Please join me in supporting Horizons at SFFS today to expand partnerships, engage more crisis-impacted families, and grow our supportive community stronger. In past years, the SF Department of Children, Youth and Families has been a partner to increase access to education for our students. This summer, as we face a potential 40% loss to our summer program due to DCYF funding cuts that have impacted so many vital programs in our city, we’ve decided to celebrate Horizons Giving Day, the whole month of May. Please join me in our movement - your gift saves the summer for San Francisco scholars and helps bridge the educational equity gap in our city. Let’s help together. In gratitude, friendship and community, Aneesha #GiveTheGiftofSummer #SparkPassions #HorizonsGivingDay https://lnkd.in/gJAYnibC Links for reference: Horizons at SFFS: https://lnkd.in/gfsdugDX Impact Report: https://lnkd.in/gZc2jn85 Press Release on DCYF Loss of Funding: https://lnkd.in/gNprpSyB

Chapter One UK's latest impact report demonstrates just what can be achieved when companies and their employees collaborate with charities to create real social value in regions of deprivation. And the potential to support even more struggling young readers across the UK is enormous. #internationaldayofeducation #socialvalue #socialimpact #esg #csr #corporatepartnerships #responsiblebusiness #corporateresponsibility #socialmobility #literacyforall #readingforpleasure #volunteering #corporatevolunteering

LIIF's Amy Shea, MPA, Yarimar (Yari) Gonzalez and Andrea Del Valle are excited to be co-presenting on a panel, "What to Expect When You Are Expecting a Grant," at McCormick Center for Early Childhood Leadership's #LC2024 on Feb. 9 (1:15 p.m.-2:45 p.m. CT, Room Lake Michigan B) in Wheeling, Illinois. Panel info: Whether this is your first time, or you have applied for and received grants in the past, this workshop is intended to share best practices, guidelines, and the Grantors point of view to make your grant applications more effective. The content will equip child care business owners with the knowledge and tools necessary to search for and apply for grant funding. We will also talk about community development financial institutions (CDFIs) and how they can support your child care business, as well as other potential funding opportunities in your communities. At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to: • Effectively search and track grant opportunities • Identify and gather required documents and information to submit with the grant application • Create and track detailed budgets • Write a compelling grant narrative • Monitor grants through sound recordkeeping practices • Write reports for funders after being awarded Together, we will share our experiences as grantors and demystify the grant application process so that everyone feels confident and prepared to pursue funding for their businesses. #LeadershipConnections #childcare #earlyeducation #grants

Ever wondered what school boards do and why they do it? Each school district in Texas has a nonpartisan governing body comprised of 7-9 elected trustees who provide oversight and make macro-level decisions for the district, much like the board of a corporation, foundation, or nonprofit. School boards are NOT involved in day-to-day operations. Rather, they are responsible for: 1. Setting student outcome goals. → It is imperative for districts to have clear targets that are measurable and regularly monitored to improve student outcomes. 2. Adopting policies that guide district action. → Policy can be a powerful tool to create equity and close opportunity and achievement gaps. 3. Hiring and regularly evaluating the superintendent. → The superintendent acts as the CEO of the district and should be held accountable for student success. 4. Approving an annual budget consistent with the district vision. → Budgets should reflect district values and provide support for every student to succeed. School board trustees are more than just decision-makers, they are community representatives whose actions should reflect the values of the community. Most importantly, they are responsible for ensuring all students receive an excellent and equitable education. Visit our school board information hub to learn more. https://lnkd.in/gcemmnWR