BOSTON, MA — As pandemic restrictions ease, there is a pull for schools to return to the way things were before COVID-19. High school and system leaders face a tough decision: seize the opportunity to make changes that will lead to more equitable outcomes for students, or return to the status quo. Barr Foundation, a nonprofit focused on helping all students thrive in and beyond high school, is seeking up to 10 grantees for “Meeting the Moment: Transforming the High School Experience.” High school and system leaders from all over New England are invited to submit a proposal for up to $100,000 to support internal learning and planning, stakeholder engagement, and project management from July 2023-July 2024.
“Now is the time to challenge the status quo and move towards a vision of educational excellence that our students deserve,” says Barr Foundation Director of Education Jenny Curtin. “Too often, school and system structures, policies, practices, and belief systems limit access to opportunity and contribute to inequitable outcomes for students of color, low-income students, students learning English, and students with special needs.” Barr is seeking applicants that are ready to embrace this pivotal moment and are open to new possibilities for fundamental change at both the high school and system level. They must also have a significant or fast-growing percentage of high-need students, and/or a plan to center the needs of students not currently being served well by the current school model.
Grantees will receive financial support and will participate in a community of practice that allows them to develop both a vision of excellence and an implementation strategy to make that vision a reality. The work will have three phases with aligned supports from national experts, at no cost to the grantees:
- Learn (Fall 2023) – Deepen collective capacity to understand and respond to the students served; utilize and enhance leadership experiences; and identify how policies, practices, and organizational systems contribute to or prevent students from thriving in our schools.
- Dream (Winter 2024) – See what’s possible through interactions with and visits to bright spot schools/districts.
- Plan (Spring 2024) – Develop a plan for a transformed high school experience and system customized to the local context.
For more information or to apply for the program, visit the website or email EducationRFP@barrfoundation.org. Applications will be open through March 15 at 5 p.m.
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