Flint Early Childhood Collaborative
Cultivating Inspiration and Creativity
Educare Flint has been buzzing with engaging activities that have sparked joy and creativity among our children. One standout event was the Black Art Exhibit, where our young artists showcased their talents through visually stunning displays inspired by famous Black artists. As families explored the exhibit during the Family Art Walk, the atmosphere was enriched by the soulful sounds of Black musical artists, creating a truly immersive experience. This special event provided an opportunity for parents from different classes to witness the creative brilliance of our young learners. One parent, brimming with pride, expressed her admiration for our school's dedication to celebrating Black history, stating, "I take pictures and post them every day, telling people how my son's school celebrates Black history!" Her words serve as a testament to the deep sense of pride and belonging cultivated at Educare Flint. With humility and pride, we affirm that "No one does it like EDUCARE Flint!
Network for School Excellence
Gathering Momentum: Network Insights
Last month, over 100 academic leaders representing 8 schools convened for the Network for School Excellence's third gathering! It's a privilege to unite our staff to explore cutting-edge approaches for their classrooms. These dedicated educators collaborated, delved into best practices, and mapped out their next implementation steps!
Community Education & Afterschool
Driving Outcomes and Attendance
We are proud to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our students at both Durant-Tuuri Mott Elementary and Dailey Elementary!
In recognition of their outstanding commitment to attendance, five exceptional students and their parents, who maintained perfect attendance from August 2023 to March 2024, were treated to an exciting Detroit Pistons game through the Durant-Tuuri Mott NBA (Never Been Absent) program. This initiative not only drives positive outcomes but also serves as a token of appreciation for their dedication. In addition to celebrating attendance milestones, we are thrilled to announce a new development at Dailey Elementary. Thanks to Ms. Marble's generosity in allocating a portion of their Title 1 funds, afterschool transportation is now available for students who previously lacked access. This initiative opens doors to enrichment opportunities and ensures that all students have equal access to after-school programs.
Furthermore, Dailey Elementary is embarking on an Attendance Campaign, aiming for 25 days with 85% attendance. To support this initiative, the school will utilize their Network budget, offering incentives to both teachers and students who contribute to achieving this goal. These efforts underscore our commitment to fostering a culture of attendance and driving positive outcomes for all students.
Flint Parent Collaborative
Flint Family Landscape
Parents are their children’s first teachers and most important advocates. Beginning at birth, parents play an instrumental role in the development of their children–nurturing critical social, emotional, and intellectual tools that will position them to thrive in school and beyond. When children enter school, the role of parents is amplified, as parents’ involvement in their children’s schools is “one key success factor that transcends nearly all others.”
Recognizing that Flint families are not served by a single school system but rather an educational ecosystem–comprised of a diverse range of schools, programs, services, and opportunities, the Flint Center for Educational Excellence (the Flint Center), conducted a multi-phased landscape assessment, engaging Flint parents, to understand the opportunities that exist to systematize and sustain robust levels of family engagement for all Flint kids, regardless of where they attend school. Engagement in the landscape scan process included:
62
participants in Visioning Sessions
125
participants in Independent Focus Groups (Parenting Chats)
222
respondents to Surveys
Flint parents identified several structural and systemic barriers that may inhibit this vision if unaddressed, including (1) school quality and childcare availability, (2)health and safety, (3) parent engagement and support, and (4) families’ overall economic stability. When asked what parents could do to address these barriers, parents recommended:
- Organizing and advocating for improvements in school quality, safety, and family partnership.
- Strengthening school-family partnerships by engaging parents as teachers and leaders; and
- Developing peer support networks for parents to collaborate and share resources.
Community Council on Education
Carnegie Summit on Improvement in Education
Last week, Keiona Murphy, our esteemed Chief Strategy Officer, participated in the Carnegie Summit. This renowned event, hosted by the Carnegie Foundation, gathers champions of educational equity to celebrate innovation and improvement in education systems. Joined by Dr. Cassandra Brently from Mass Insight, a key technical assistance provider for our Community Council work, Keiona engaged with fellow educators dedicated to serving teachers, students, and communities.
