As educators and parents across the nation and world work tirelessly to ensure all students are recovering educationally from the pandemic, some Michigan public schools are demonstrating all students — of every imaginable background — can strive and learn at high levels despite great challenges at home and at school.
Four Michigan schools predominantly serving students of color and students from low-income backgrounds will receive the inaugural Building the Hope Schools awards from the Education Trust-Midwest for consistently demonstrating exceptional academic progress and growth for traditionally underserved students. The schools are in the top 25 percent for academic proficiency or above average student growth for all Michigan students, according to analyses by researchers from the non-partisan Education Trust-Midwest.
“At a time of global efforts to ensure all children catch up from their pandemic educational losses — especially vulnerable students — these Michigan public schools are modeling the way for all schools on how to strive to ensure all children are supported to learn at high levels,” said Amber Arellano, executive director of the Education Trust-Midwest, a data-driven education policy, research and advocacy organization that works to close gaps in opportunity and achievement for all children, particularly those from low-income families or who are students of color.
“These schools show that it’s possible not only that learning for students of color and low-income students can soar, but also that public schools can be culturally- and linguistically-affirming places for children from all backgrounds,” said Arellano.
The four 2021 Building the Hope Schools are: Bennett Elementary, a Detroit Public Schools Community District school; Discovery Elementary, a Kentwood Public School located outside Grand Rapids; Hamtramck Academy in Hamtramck; and Thomas Jefferson Elementary in the South Redford School District.
Their subgroups of students — Black, Latino, low-income and English Learner students in particular — also are performing in the top 30% among Michigan’s high-growth public schools where data is available. In addition, they have culturally and linguistically responsive school-wide practices — including instructional practices — that facilitate students’ outstanding academic progress and growth, making them true outliers in the state of Michigan. All of the schools are Michigan public schools.
Researchers from The Education Trust-Midwest conducted a comprehensive quantitative analysis of each school’s performance. The Ed Trust-Midwest analyses examined data for the 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years. Analysts and team members also conducted qualitative analyses, through visits and interviews, of the schools’ learning environments before selecting the award winners.
Each of the Building the Hope Schools will receive a $2,000 honorarium, in addition to the award.
This summit — which is virtual this year — will bring together leaders from business, civic and philanthropic sectors, along with educators and advocates. The goal is to inspire, build knowledge, and showcase best practices from across the country around what works to improve outcomes for underserved students. The summit is open to the public, and registration can be found at: https://events.bizzabo.com/357776
Together, we will learn, strategize and build the hope on what’s possible for Michigan’s schools and districts to make real progress to improve student achievement and access to opportunity for all students,” Arellano said.
The Education Trust-Midwest is thankful for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, PNC Bank and the DTE Energy Foundation for their commitment to all Michigan students and their support for the summit and the 2021 Building the Hope Awards.
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