2018 is another election year in Colorado and education funding is once again part of the conversation. I’ll stay out of the political discussion but in our area schools funding is a roadblock to bridging the opportunity gap. The opportunity gap is the reality that students growing up in poverty have less access to experiences, resources and educational inputs that lead to student success.

For more on the opportunity gap, read this article from David Brooks.

The idea of the opportunity gap becomes real for my wife and I when we look at the resources available to our daughters versus their classmates. Our daughters had access to great healthcare from an early age. They both attended preschool from the ages of 3 to 5. They have access to books and other learning opportunities at home. They live in a stable neighborhood and have access to a multigenerational community. My wife and I both have college degrees and know how to navigate the educational system. These educational inputs and resources available to our daughters contribute to their success in school.

Many of our daughters’ classmates didn’t have these same advantages growing up. Whether it was the race of their parents, immigration status, economic situation, lack of preschool or any other differences in life situations, many of their peers started school behind. Each school year they fall further and further behind.

As a society we have to be honest about the advantages some students have and also be honest about the roadblocks to learning that other students face. Equity means those who are further behind academically need more resources to catch up so that they can succeed into a great college or career.

With almost 90% of the students in our local schools facing this opportunity gap, we are working hard to raise awareness about the needs of our students. It is hard work to help students catch up academically. Teachers have to change their classroom practices to meet the needs of students who are behind and desperately need to catch up. But it is not just up to our teachers and schools to bridge the opportunity gap.

Our community has a role in coming alongside schools and making sure they have the resources they need to help students be successful. Our sole mission at Edgewater Collective now is building partnerships for thriving schools and this means increasing the access to resources that are available to schools, students and their families.

Some are quick to recommend that our local schools be closed and turned into charter schools like DSST or KIPP. What they don’t realize is that charter schools come with extra resources for students that our local schools do not currently have access to. Down the road charter schools might be the best option for our local students but I believe that with the right resources and commitment to effective classroom practices, our neighborhood schools can be just as effective as charter schools. Let’s work with what we have first.

As our local schools look at their budgets for next year, they are making tough choices about how they use the limited funds that are available to them. It is crucial for the growth of our students that Edgewater Collective continues to distribute funds and resources to successful programs and projects that work in our local schools.

How are we increasing educational equity in our area schools?

• Funding Goodwill’s CareerPlus mentoring program at Jefferson Jr/Sr High school
• Funding for K-3rd grade teachers to attend literacy conferences
• Funding for the Jefferson Community Center to connect students and families to resources
• Funding for books and other classroom supplies to raise 3rd grade literacy scores
• Funding and resources to renovate adult and student learning spaces at Molholm Elementary School
• Funding scholarships for first generation students heading to college
• Collecting and presenting data on what works for helping students succeed
• Connecting businesses and community members to our schools for various volunteering opportunities
• Advocating for our local schools at the district level

To continue this important work, we need your help. Here are a few ways you can partner in this important work to help local students succeed in school and life:

Volunteer

There are numerous ways that you can serve on a one-time basis or weekly to support our local students and teachers. I would love to treat you to coffee, hear about your skills and see how we can best connect you. Send me an email at joel@edgewatercollective.org or give me a call at (303) 748-0631.

Give

A large part of our work is distributing funds to successful programs and projects in our schools. Our students need extra educational inputs to catch up academically. We are so thankful those who have supported our work financially over the last five years. Consider donating to Edgewater Collective and supporting this important work in our schools. Click here to donate.

Share

The needs of our area students are hidden in a large suburban school district like Jeffco Public Schools. Share about our work on Facebook, Twitter and in conversations with your friends. We are always working hard to raise awareness of the needs in our area and the hard work that happens every day in our local schools.

My dream is that when our daughters graduate from Jefferson in 2023 and 2025 they will be surrounded by their classmates who had the needed programs and supports so they can continue their education at the college of their choice. Together we can make this dream a reality for area students!