Why Detroit Families?
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In 2018 Detroit only had 13.8% of our students reading on grade level by age 8
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In 2020 That number increased by only 2.2% and the new ESSA Law was implemented that stated “Any 3rd grader not reading on grade level would fail.”
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Parents are asked to “Give Us Time” by districts that have historically failed Black Children.
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The pandemic proved more disparities as children and families scrambled for access to quality tools to make virtual learning as effective as their neighboring more affluent school district.
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Parents and Children began to tap out (Disconnect from learning)
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Homeschooling was the best alternative, yet parents struggled with the thought of Taking Education Back Into Their Own Hands
What is Engaged Detroit?
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Engaged Detroit was created to be a resource for Detroit parents and caregivers who have made a choice to homeschool their children.
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Building community partnerships with philanthropy, educations program and community orgs that connect families along their pathway to successful homeschooling.
Engaged Detroit Pilot Timeline
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So Far
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September 2020: $25,000 VELA’s Meet the Moment Grant via National Parents Union Received. Coaching sessions began.
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October 2020: 12 Families sent letters to their schools disenrolling their children. Engaged Detroit began to build partnerships based on the families needs
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November- December 2020: Advocacy for Homeschooling and Traditional Schools students was noticed by The Skillman Foundation and Busy Bee Here to Help. $15,500 was granted to Engaged Detroit to purchase Homeschool Corners for 300 students.
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January-March 2021: Engaged Detroit parents and coaches were highlighted in local and national news and radio platforms. Individual Coaching moved to Bi-Weekly
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April 2021: Engaged Detroit VELA video release and the communities response was overwhelmingly positive. The PACE Center
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May 2021 Guardian Sponsored Summer recruitment and program funding.
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Our First Highschool Graduate
Victoria declared that she would drop out of school if she had to endure her 12th grade year as she had March 2020- June 2020. The pandemic not only isolated her from friends and her passion for learning in-person but she only had meaningful interactions with one teacher during that time. This came after years of in-person schooling let downs and two asks of her mother to homeschool her, once in 5th grade and the other in middle school.