Our Work: Exploring New Projects
The Donnell-Kay Foundation is working on Colorado's education interests by providing thoughtful research, dialogue and critical thinking in the development of creative and systemic ideas to strengthen and improve public education in Colorado.
Below are some promising ideas that we are currently exploring. We would invite you to contact us if you would like to work with us in exploring any of these issues. Please contact the appropriate staff member listed for more information.
Enrollment/Choice Study :
In partnership with Denver Public Schools, Get Smart Schools and several other non-profits, we have hired a national consultant to analyze the current choice policies at DPS. The second phase will lay out new choice policies for the district. Contact: Amy Anderson.
Education Entrepreneurship:
When we look nationally, the hotbeds of education reform tend to be concentrated in cities like Boston, New York, Los Angeles, Houston, New Orleans and the Bay Area. We are fortunate to have some leading national reformers operating in Colorado already (e.g., TFA, KIPP, College Summit, Revolution Foods) and several local efforts emerging (Get Smart Schools, West Denver Prep, Envision Schools Colorado, Denver School of Science and Technology). However, school districts and communities are asking for better quality schools and educational programs and at times we lack the capacity here to meet the demand.
So how can we continue to support both established and emerging local entrepreneurs, while at the same time create an environment that will attract more high-quality national entrepreneurs to our state? Donnell-Kay is exploring the concept of a center for education entrepreneurship in Colorado that would focus exclusively on this work. We are having initial conversations about this concept with local and national groups and welcome your thoughts and ideas as well. Contact: Amy Anderson.
Child Centered Success:
We are exploring "child-centered success" which integrates health, physical fitness and nutrition in addition to academic rigors, as a way to achieve higher academic results. Often, many behavorial and academic problems are linked to poor nutrition, lack of physical activity and proper physical and mental health care. One example found by a study by the National Institute Research and Education Foundation and Rand Corporation showed that over-weight children scored significantly lower in math and reading than their normal-wieght peers. How can these normally siloed components of a child's education and overal well-being become part of one big picture rather than something that is easily expendable during budget cuts? Contact Tony Lewis.
School Finance:
We are closely following the interim committee work on School Finance, specifically the issue areas of at-risk funding and average daily attendance. In addition, we are working with the Colorado Children's Campaign on ways to improve the School Finance Act. Contact: Amy Anderson