A view of the facade at George Washington High School in Denver says “Denver Public Schools,” in a photo taken on March 25, 2024. (Quentin Young/Colorado Newsline)
Public schools are the cornerstone of our communities. Yet, the ever-changing challenges faced by our schools can often go unnoticed.
This past academic year, Denver Public Schools faced an unprecedented influx of over 3,800 new-to-country students, straining the district’s resources. However, this unexpected critical situation was transformed into an opportunity to highlight the vital role of public school foundations in addressing the urgent needs of students, families and educators.
After engaging in a listening tour at schools impacted by the influx of new students, the DPS Foundation learned more about the pain points schools were experiencing and the resources classroom teachers needed to support their students and families. This inspired the Denver Public Schools Foundation to take action and launch The New Arrivals, Student & Family Fund.
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With more than $300,000 raised and allocated to 27 different DPS schools and departments, this fund provided essential and culturally responsive support, ensuring that new students and their families received essential resources during the 2023-2024 school year. Services such as food security programs, family-centered mental health services, classroom materials and translation support helped stabilize families, allowing students to focus on their education.
Gina, a school administrator, shared the impact firsthand: “The New Arrival Grant has benefitted many families in our community. Our school has been able to purchase items to meet specific needs. One family shared that the clothing and shoes they received have given them dignity and pride. This mother shared that her children feel more confident in their new clothes and shoes that fit them correctly as she has worried about meeting the needs of her growing children. Others also shared that the laundry detergent and other cleaning products have made such a difference in them being able to maintain a clean and healthy home for their families.”
Partnerships were essential to the fund’s success. The Rose Community Foundation and The Denver Foundation’s matching gift commitments were invaluable. The Denver Health Mobile Health Units supported well-care checks, vaccines, and health support for new arrival students and their families on a weekly basis.
The role of public school foundations like the DPS Foundation cannot be overstated. These organizations possess the flexibility and responsiveness needed to address emergent needs quickly. When the influx of new students began, the DPS Foundation was able to rapidly mobilize community support, connect with partners, and direct funds to where they were most needed. This agility is crucial in times of crisis, allowing for swift action that governmental funding processes often cannot match.
The role of public school foundations like the DPS Foundation cannot be overstated. These organizations possess the flexibility and responsiveness needed to address emergent needs quickly.
DPS Foundation collaborated with other school foundations in Colorado to share resources and brainstorm ways to support our districts as we all navigated this opportunity for support. For example, the Aurora Public Schools Foundation met one of the needs of their school district by providing 150 Pocketalk devices. These small handheld devices allow for two-way translation offered in 117 languages supporting administrators, teachers, families and students. Some new-to-country students who previously were quiet and struggling to understand their peers and teachers started to open up thanks to the help of Pocketalks. This creative use of funding to directly support schools is a unique way that school foundations can quickly and effectively help new-to-country students.
The future volume of new arrivals coming to the Denver metro area next year is unknown. However, the New Arrivals, Student & Family Fund has created a successful blueprint that can serve as a model for all organizations on how to rally community support. This fund demonstrates how an initial challenge can be transformed into an opportunity to come together, lift up our community and become better neighbors. With this framework in place, we are confident that if the need continues, we will be ready to respond effectively.
It is important to be responsive to special circumstances as they arise; however, all DPS students and their families need sustained community support. We need to partner with educators and schools to ensure every student within DPS receives the attention and resources they need to thrive. Programs are in place to help families year-round — not just during times of crisis — and these efforts can always use help with ongoing needs.
Supporting public schools creates a more resilient and thriving community. Whether it’s responding to urgent needs or day-to-day support, we remain committed to ensuring that every student, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to succeed. Collaboration is the key to the success of everything we do, and together, we can build a stronger, more supportive community.