360.313.4730 | 2901 Falk Road Vancouver WA 98661
When the community comes together, students succeed and thrive. Imagine what is possible when students come to school healthy, happy, and ready to learn!
Our 2021-22 Community Impact Report includes the many ways donors helped students this past year. Monetary and in-kind donations provided food, housing assistance, medical care, transportation, clothing, schools supplies, personal hygiene items, family engagement and student enrichment opportunities – and much more.
Thousands of people and organizations–including Vancouver Public Schools teachers, staff, parents, community partners, and individuals–provided a network of wrap around services and supports to help students thrive.
Together, we help students overcome barriers to learning. Together, we create opportunities to cultivate and inspire student success.
Thank you for making a difference for Vancouver Public School students!
Amy Davis, President, Board of Directors
WHAT WE DO
The Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools is an independent, 501(c)3 educational non-profit corporation established in 1988 by Dr. Jim Parsley, VPS Superintendent (1980 to 2002). Dr. Parsley saw what students came to school “without” and established the Foundation to help meet those needs.
The Foundation supports students across all 37 Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) through the generous donations from school employees, parents, students, community members and businesses. The Foundation is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors made up of business, community and education leaders.
Our Commitment to Equity and Inclusion
The Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools is committed to listen and take action around safety and social justice to ensure a more equitable and inclusive future for all students. In the coming months, we will be taking steps to further define how this will be included in our organization for permanent change. We invite you to join us in our shared commitment to this valuable work.
THE STUDENTS WE SERVE
The Foundation for Vancouver Public Schools (VPS) serves over 22,000 youth in 37 schools and programs. Support for the Foundation for VPS helps students in need overcome barriers to learning and enriches the school experience to promote achievement for all students.
- 53% of VPS students are from families with incomes below federal poverty guidelines (i.e., qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch), with some VPS schools as high as 81%.
- 1103 students experienced homelessness during the past school year.
- Approximately 1 out of 4 VPS students are chronically absent.
- Our students are from diverse backgrounds, with 100 languages spoken.
Mission
We create opportunities to cultivate and inspire student success.
Vision
All students are prepared, confident and excited to learn.
Cause
Getting kids to school healthy, happy and ready to learn!
Areas of Impact
Basic Needs
Housing Stability
Health Services
Enrichment, Engagement, Mentoring
Early Learning Initiatives
Family-Community Engagement
2021-22 IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
Thanks to donors…
• Barriers to learning associated with poverty were removed so that students could come to school happy, healthy, and ready to learn.
• Students accessed engagement opportunities and connected with mentors to spark their interests, discover their passions, and envision their future.
• School communities were strengthened by family and community engagement activities.
• Early learning initiatives helped our youngest learners begin school ready to learn.
• Students benefited from access to mental health services.
• Students prepared for life after graduation.
Impact at a glance:
• All 37 schools received funding for students’ basic needs including food, clothing and hygiene along with thrift store vouchers, grocery store and gas cards for emergency needs.
• Housing stability assistance prevented eviction for 80 families impacting 189 children.
• VPS Family-Community Resource coordinators hosted 56 food pantries, provided 1,847 winter break food boxes, and gave out 22,923 snacks.
• School supplies and funds helped students start school ready to learn.
• 609 children from 200 families received utilities assistance.
• Schools were awarded $60,000 in grants benefiting students through projects, programs, and experiences inside and out of school including trips to art and science museums, motivational speakers and presenters on social justice issues, science projects, and school-wide and family literacy events.
• Students participated in mentoring programs and low to no-cost after school sports programs and camps.
• 80 children attended evening preschool provided at 8 schools.
• Children and caregivers read together at home, thanks to 1176 books provided in 11 languages during Read Across America.
• VPS Family-Community Resource coordinators hosted 44 family engagement events reaching 7,791 kids and 11,924 adults.
• 677 students received services from a mental health professional.
• Students received college and career readiness programming including workshops, presentations, and transportation and clothing for internships.
Performance Measures
VPS measures success by parent and community involvement, safe and supportive environments and student achievement. VPS data and teacher reports document the impact on student learning:
– Improved student performance
– Increased graduation rates
– Decreased absences
– Reduced disciplinary actions
– Smaller performance gaps between students of diverse ethnic & economic backgrounds
Help Vancouver Students and Families
Remove the barriers of learning. Give our Vancouver Public School students boundless opportunities.
Are you a VPS employee?
Give through the VPS Staff Campaign.