COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS

All children should have access to an education that allows them to achieve their greatest potential.

Many students are coming to school WITHOUT… A good night’s sleep Clean clothes or adequate food Simple supplies to do their schoolwork Traditional academic support from home Ask a teacher what these students need to help improve their academic performance. Mentors to encourage and care Additional academic support (tutoring) Increased parental engagement Physical needs

GOAL from Strategic Plan Establish and maintain proactive community partnerships that encourage input, openness, support, and accountability to promote and instill District pride.

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP STRATEGIES CLOSE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS AMONG SUBGROUP STUDENT POPULATIONS. ADDRESS SATISFACTION AMONG DISTRICT STAKEHOLDERS (STUDENTS, PARENTS/FAMILIES, STAFF, COMMUNITY). PROVIDE TECHNOLOGY ACCESS, TRAINING AND SUPPORT TO ENHANCE TEACHING AND LEARNING. DEVELOP A DATA SYSTEM TO CELEBRATE SUCCESS AND FOCUS IMPROVEMENT EFFORTS. PROACTIVELY ADDRESS FACILITY AND SPACE NEEDS TO MEET OUR GROWING STUDENT POPULATION. SECURE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO ENSURE QUALITY PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR OUR STUDENTS.

Unit 5 has developed hundreds of community partnerships Across the district, families, businesses, universities/colleges, social service agencies, governmental groups, faith- based groups, and many other community organizations have come together through a shared mission to prepare our students for college/career/life.

Promise Councils Parent-Teacher Organizations State Farm Insurance Country Insurance Midwest Food Bank American Heart Association United Way Advocate Bromenn OSF Saint Joseph McLean County Wellness Coalition Town of Normal City of Bloomington B-Normal Campus Connections BN Parents Chamber of Commerce Big Brothers Big Sisters of McLean 100 Black Men of Central Illinois Illinois Wesleyan University Illinois State University Normal Rotary University of Illinois Extension Unity Center Boys & Girls Club Unit 5 Educational Foundation Beyond the Books Ed Foundation Retired Teachers Association YMCA/YWCA Area churches McLean County Compact Numerous other organizations

PROMISE COUNCILS The Promise Council is a collection of caring adults who work to connect community resources to the specific needs of students as identified by teachers and staff at local schools. The goal of the Promise Councils is to remove barriers to learning because we believe that all children deserve the opportunity to achieve success through education. The first local Promise Council was started at Pepper Ridge in 2009, and there are currently eight Unit 5 schools who receive the support of Promise Councils Pepper Ridge (2009) – Cedar Ridge (2010) Oakdale (2011) – Evans Jr. (2013) Kingsley Jr. (2013) - Fox Creek– (2014) Parkside Elementary (2015) – Glenn (2015)

What does "promise" in Promise Councils refer to? The 5 promises are: 1. CARING ADULTS who are actively involved as parents, teachers, mentors, coaches, and neighbors 2. SAFE PLACES that offer constructive use of time 3. A HEALTHY START and healthy development 4. AN EFFECTIVE EDUCATION that builds marketable skills 5. OPPORTUNITIES TO HELP OTHERS by making a difference through service

Pepper Ridge Data – 3 rd grade

2009Reading All 71.5%Reading Low Income 56.8% Math All 83.6%Math Low Income 73.9% 2010Reading All 77.1%Reading Low income 64.6% Math All 87.0%Math Low Income 75.9% 2011Reading All 89.3%Reading Low Income (No subgroup) Math All 95.9% Math Low Income (No subgroup) 2012 Reading All 91.3%Reading Low Income 85.3% Math All 95.3%Math Low Income 89.3% Pepper Ridge Schoolwide Data

Where do we go from here? How do we maintain and build on the community/school partnerships already in place? How do we create new partnerships in an effort to expand the services provided to our students and families?