360.313.4730 | 2901 Falk Road Vancouver WA 98661
...to be happy, healthy, and ready to learn.
Getting kids what they need...
As we navigate these challenging times together – and look ahead to 2021 – we remain committed to improving the lives of thousands of vulnerable children and families. You make a difference in many students’ lives, creating opportunities to cultivate and inspire student success. We couldn’t do this work without your support!
Cindy Luckman, 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 23,000 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.
- 50% 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 88%.
- 800+ students experienced homelessness during the past school year.
- Approximately 1 out of 5 VPS students are chronically absent.
- Our students are from diverse backgrounds, with 66 languages spoken and 19% with a home language other than English.
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
INVESTING IN VANCOUVER YOUTH
2019-20 IMPACT HIGHLIGHTS
Barriers to learning associated with poverty were removed so that students can come to school happy, healthy, & ready to learn:
• Basic needs funding, including Emergency Checkbooks for all 37 school buildings
• 4,000 cafeteria meals
• 1,400 thrift store vouchers and 1,000 grocery store gift cards for emergency needs
• 243 children from 114 families received housing stability assistance to prevent eviction
• 42 students were provided with vision referrals and assistance
Students accessed engagement opportunities & were paired with mentors to spark their interests, connect to their passions, and help envision their future:
• Over $100,000 in enrichment grants and engagement activities benefiting students at every school through projects, programs, and experiences inside & out of the classroom
• Mentoring programs at all grade levels including the Lunch Buddy program and middle school lunchtime mentoring; and funded programs offered by Police Activities League, Girls Inc, and Saturday Academy
School communities were strengthened by funding family and community engagement activities:
• Family-Community Resource Centers hosted 213 family engagement events attended by 9,767 adults and 10,331 children
Early learning initiatives helped our youngest learners begin school ready to learn:
• Funding assistance for 1-2-3 Grow and Learn programming, held at 14 schools, engaging 2,959 children, birth-5, and their caregivers
• Evening Preschool offered at 13 schools, reaching hundreds of students and parents
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.