It’s easy to think that a student entering K-6th grade will graduate from high school some day but the reality is sobering.  Nearly half of inner city and some rural school district students do not graduate from high school.  Their education vision and experience needs to change at an early age.  Why not help K-6 students to grab a vision of their high school graduation on day one.  Students must know that they have what it takes to succeed in school.  This vision must not only be captured in the student’s mind it must be their teacher’s expectation.  A student’s gifts and talents must be exposed early if the student is going to thrive in every grade. 

I have not run into a K-6 student who is making a plan to fail and not graduate.  In fact many aspire to be doctors and lawyers.  Each student must receive an internal message that makes school worth it. It will take creativity on the part of each schools leadership.   The students are asking why should I stay in school if no one really cares. A little praise for each student’s accomplishments can go a long way.  For some students the only praise that they receive all day is from their teacher.  Students also feel inspired when they receive an award.  There is a tendency to single out certain students again and again.  For weeks when there is perfect attendance why not give an entire class a certificate.  Did you know that some students will never earn a certificate during their entire time in school?  Giving awards is one way to indicate that a student’s efforts are worth it.  Students need to feel that someone cares about their progress.

  It is amazing how many K-6 students that I talk to who want to start their own businesses.  Somehow they know that having their own business I a good idea.  All along we need to help students to take daily steps into their future.  They must see themselves in a variety of jobs.  Inviting guests from all fields of work to speak to students will broaden their horizons. What they don’t know is that they can start and earn a good living with more education.  The K-6 student needs to know the amount of education that’s required to gain employment in certain jobs.

Six years can go by really fast.  One moment a student is in the sixth grade and the next moment they are ready to graduate from high school.  This is one reason why it is important for students to see themselves as graduates early.  Each day their parent, teacher and counselor have an opportunity to inspire each student.  It’s important to take the time to notice when they are maturing emotionally and intellectually.  It is a great opportunity to give them positive feedback concerning their growth.

Every student is a high school and college graduate in waiting. Some students need to learn how to focus on their goals.  Each student must be taught how to reach their goals and how to avoid distractions.  Ask open ended questions to find out about their graduation plans.  Listen before you speak and you can gain the students confidence.

Each day students attend a k12 school adds up to the long term goal of graduation.  Igniting the fire in each student requires persistence from parents and teachers who tell the students that they expect to attend their graduation.  Students like challenges when they perceive that the desired goal is attainable.

The Denver Public School Foundation is a “portal” for community and business philanthropy for the Denver schools. Originally started in 1984, it played a passive role in the Denver schools, until it was revitalized in 2002.

The purpose of the Denver schools’ foundation is to raise and manage funds in support of the district’s ambitious plan to improve student achievement. The Denver schools leadership develops the funding areas, and the foundation drives community investment and builds partnerships with local businesses. The price tag for improving student academic achievement is much higher than the available monies provided through annual city, state and federal funding.

During the 2005-2006 school year, the foundation’s accomplishments show it to be a vital arm of the Denver schools’ scholastic achievement initiative. Here are the major highlights:

• The foundation raised $750,000 to implement the first Principals’ Institute that was held in June 2006. Leadership training, designed to improve student achievement, was provided to 130 Denver schools’ principals, and new strategies were developed by the principals to transform their schools into effective learning organizations. The Denver schools principals will continue to be supported in their objectives in 2006-2007 by attending monthly professional development sessions that began in August.

• The foundation raised $250,000 to implement DPS Success, which provides supplemental instruction in math and literacy to students in grades three through ten. During the 2005-2006 school year, 558 teachers provided extra tutoring instruction to approximately 8,400 students in 82 schools.

• The School Partners Program was launched with $250,000 raised by the foundation. The program will create tailor-made partnerships between the Denver schools and Denver area businesses, raising even more support for the Denver schools initiatives in the future.

• The A to Z Fund was developed to provide funding support for individual school programs and projects, ensuring that every student has an equal opportunity to access the same types of activities and further enrich the learning experience of Denver schools students. The goal is to raise $100,000 by December 2006, with the first funding cycle beginning in February 2007.

• The foundation facilitated the requests of numerous donors, who wanted their donations to underwrite specific projects. Some of the projects were library improvement, health and safety education programs, new gymnasium scoreboards, and athletic equipment.

• The Lights On After School initiative was developed to advance the quality of after-school programs in support of the Denver schools students. The following accomplishments are from this program:

o $658,000 in grants was awarded to 87 elementary and middle schools to support their after-school programs that served approximately 8,500 Denver schools students.

o Over $260,00 ensured that 3,000 middle school students could participate in competitive after-school sports.

o A study, released in April 2006, showed that multiple-year participation in quality and diverse after-school programs in the Denver schools does result in positive student achievement and school attendance.

o Phillips Elementary School improved its reading test scores for third graders from 45 percent proficient or advanced in 2004 to 89 percent in 2005. The school attributes its successes to Lights On After School tutoring.

o Tom Roberts, a Morey Middle School student, finished first at the Denver-metro Math Counts competition in March 2006. Math Counts at Morey is funded by the Lights On After School initiative.

During the 2006-2007 school year, the foundation will continue to support the above initiatives, as well as the following:

• Teacher Induction Program — support new teachers during their first three years of service in the Denver schools, and

• Science Program — enhance the current science program by supporting new elementary school science curriculum and providing high quality materials for the new Science Resource Center.