Kids CARE Foundation, Inc.
Kids Care Foundation is a Black-led organization established to develop a fund that supports
the critical needs of early learners and elementary-age children of color in southwest Atlanta. Our organization seeks to transform the educational outcomes and experiences of underserved children from diverse backgrounds. To accomplish this goal, we strategically pursue funding that ensures access to technology, experiential learning opportunities, upgraded facilities and sustainseffective instructors.
Statement of Need
Kids Care Foundation believes that the children of southwest Atlanta deserve a high quality educational experience regardless of their race, class, or community condition. For that reason, our organization has identified the most significant challenges observed to ensure the initiatives we seek to fund effectively target the need.
Achievement Gap:
According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) in 2019, there is a persistent achievement gap in math between black and white students at the national level. In fourth-grade math, the average score for black students was 26 points lower than that of white students.. This gap is evident in standardized test scores, grades, and graduation rates.
Poverty:
African American families in Atlanta are more likely to live in poverty, which can affect children’s access to quality education. Poverty can lead to inadequate nutrition, healthcare, and housing, which can all impact a child’s ability to learn and succeed in school.
Implicit Bias:
African American students in Atlanta may experience implicit bias from teachers, administrators, and peers, which can lead to lower expectations, unfair discipline, and a lack of support. This is particularly true for students with learning disabilities, of which nearly 40% of Kids Care Atlanta’s student body exhibit a learning or behavioral difference.
Lack of early intervention:
Trends that intend to remedy the poverty, education, and thus achievement gap are often reactive. The achievement gap can begin to appear as early as preschool, but it tends to become most significant during the elementary school years and can persist throughout a student’s academic career.
It’s important to address these challenges and provide African American students in Atlanta with equal opportunities to succeed in education. This can be done by addressing systemic issues, providing additional resources to under-resourced schools, increasing diversity in teaching staff, and creating a curriculum that reflects the experiences and contributions of African Americans.