K-12 Education
Present & Ready to Learn – Our Approach
Improvements made in Detroit schools won’t matter if students aren’t attending class. Through our Present & Ready to Learn approach, we are committed to providing supports that enable students to regularly attend school and fully engage in learning.
More than half of Detroit students are chronically absent, meaning they miss 10 percent or more of the school year, equating to 18 or more days. While the majority of school districts across the nation struggle with chronic absenteeism at some level, Detroit’s rate of chronic absenteeism (58 percent for the 2016-17 school year) is one of the highest in the country.
To help turn this alarming stat on its head, we will:
- Survey and study the barriers that keep young people out of school, and work to reduce these barriers
- Build community awareness and action
- Help schools develop capacity to monitor and intervene
- Assist schools in creating more welcoming and supporting cultures, and offer whole-child resources for families
Present & Ready to Learn is one of three approaches we’re taking to improve educational outcomes for Detroit students. Read about our other two approaches: Literacy & Numeracy and Education Ecosystem Reset.
The Skillman Foundation
The Skillman Foundation is a grantmaking organization established in 1960 by Rose Skillman. We have granted out more than $730 million and have served as a vocal advocate to strengthen K-12 education, afterschool programming, child-centered neighborhoods, youth and community leadership, and racial equity and justice.
We are in the process of developing a new strategic framework, co-designed with Detroit youth and their champions.