Will Simpkins, Ed.D. on LinkedIn: Independent students are on the rise at MSU Denver. This program provides… (2024)

Great article by Jason B. Allen!

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Educators and school leaders often ask, “what can my school community do to promote school belonging?”This month on the blog we share information on evidence-informed interventions available to schools for increasing students’ sense of school belonging. #school #schoolbelonging

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"Our coach noticed the biggest impact and said that several students are now participating, laughing, and playing with their peers during PE."-School Counselor, Austin TXShoes That Fit's mission goes way beyond just providing shoes. We're advocating for equity in education because we understand its profound impact on a child's future. Equity in schools means ensuring that every child, regardless of their background, has access to the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed.When we prioritize equity, we acknowledge and address the systemic barriers that hold some students back. This means recognizing that not all students have the same starting point or access to the same resources outside of school. By leveling the playing field and providing additional support to those who need it most, we can create an environment where every child has the chance to reach their full potential.Equity in schools is not just about fairness; it's about ensuring justice and breaking the cycle of generational poverty. When children from low-income families are given the same opportunities as their more advantaged peers, we're not only investing in their future but also in the future of our communities and society as a whole.Moreover, promoting equity in schools fosters a more inclusive and diverse learning environment, where students learn from each other's unique perspectives and experiences. This prepares them to navigate an increasingly interconnected and globalized world with empathy, understanding, and respect.Ultimately, equity in schools is not just a moral imperative; it's an economic necessity and a driver of social progress. By investing in equitable education, we're not only changing individual lives but also building a brighter and more equitable future for all. Join us in advocating for equity in education and creating opportunities for EVERY child to succeed. #EquityInEducation #ShoesThatFit #OpportunityForAll 🌟👟

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Population shifts and community lifecycles aren't unique to just Colorado. This article from Chalkbeat Chicago tells the story of one high school in IL that has only 33 students. "The school’s lack of resources, plus the decline in the city’s Black population, have led to fewer students attending neighborhood schools, according to neighbors and statistics."Schools in these situations require higher per pupil spending to stay open, sometimes referred to as a small-school subsidy. "The high school is spending just over $68,000 per student compared to the district average of $18,287[.]"If your school is currently facing declining enrollment, call us to talk about how our community engagement model is different.https://lnkd.in/gRkkkXKi

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We are living in exciting times within the field of education. Legislators at the state and federal level have expanded the conversation to educate children. The expansion of that conversation centers the Community Schools Strategy and the Whole Child model.Educating children has embraced strategies with complexities to address the challenges we face in public education. Strategies alone are insufficient to improve outcomes for children. How we move from policy and strategy to implementation matters. Each state has layers of bureaucracy that include County Offices of Education (COEs), Local Education Agencies (LEAs), and school sites. This does not include the families/caregivers, organizations, and agencies who need to be a part of this conversation to re-imagine and transform schools. How we engage the various stakeholders in this endeavor matters.It's time to move from complaint to commitment!It's time to do some design thinking!It's time to do some work!It's time for YOU to join in the conversation to re-imagine schools!LET'S GO!!!#CommunitySchools #WholeChild #SustainabilityMatters#CollectiveImpact

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Family engagement is a critical component to student engagement and achievement. My push to increase family engagement stems from my personal experiences and the ways I've been able to connect with students and understand how to support them in the school environment. Through my personal exploration of engaging families, I learned:➡️ Families value education and the opportunities it provides.➡️ Families in underprivileged communities often view education as "a way out" of poverty.➡️ Families aren't taught tangible strategies to help their children succeed.Through SEL initiatives/practices, the strategies you provide may include:💡 Parent workshops focused on tools to help students academically at home💡 MTSS model implementation💡 Home visits 💡 Community visits (setting up information booths where your student's live)Directly from the article:"We don’t just work with students. We have also found new strategies to engage families. Our district’s coordinator of family and community partnerships, Christina Morales, has led a push toward parent-teacher home visits. Home visits can build trusting, nonjudgmental relationships with families. We don’t come to these visits with worksheets or specific plans; they are solely an opportunity to learn about the needs of our students’ families." #mtss #familyengagement #parentsupport #studentsupport #equityineducation #educationalleadership

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Help us change the conversation around Charter Schools one Student at a time! 📣 While Charter Schools and other Public Schools are both part of the broader educational landscape, they do play different roles within the educational system as a whole. As a Charter School, Iowa Choice has the capacity to: 👍 cater to a variety of Student preferences👍 partner with underserved Students👍 provide personalized, one-on-one guidance to every Student👍 support school districts across the state of Iowa👍 connect Students to opportunities after High School👍 serve Students with individual educational needs👍 and MORE!We believe in fostering collaboration, sharing successful strategies and collectively working towards the betterment of education alongside other Public Schools here in Iowa! #charterschools #servingstudents #servingourcommunity #highschooldiploma #supporting #supportourstudents #supportpublicschools #supportiowaschools #iowapublicschools #iowastudents #studentpreferences #studentpartnerships #underserved #personalizedguidance #supportschooldistricts #futurefocused #fullcircle #individualneeds #educationalneeds #collaboration #sharing #collective #betterment

Strengthen #K12 student achievement and outcomes through family and #community engagement. Learn how to increase student performance, improve attendance and behavior, enhance staff understanding, and strengthen #school reputation. Download the infographic now https://hubs.ly/Q02dcwCy0

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Community schools are increasingly seen as a method of improving students’ academic and social-emotional development. This brief explores how Oakland Unified School District's district-level supports enabled whole child educational practices. https://lnkd.in/guAhxPfS

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This LPI case study of Oakland Unified School District explores the district’s path to becoming a full-service community schools district, the challenges and successes it faced, and district-level resources and infrastructure. #CommunitySchools https://lnkd.in/ePGBT4C3

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