MAYBE THE STATE THINKS ALL THAT BABY MOZART YOU PLAYED YOUR CHILD IN THE WOMB QUALIFIES AS A MUSIC EDUCATION

As parents, we do everything we can to give our kids a leg up. Even before their eyes see the light of day. We read to them, talk to them and grace their still-developing ears with music from the greats.

And according to the state, that’s enough. Any sort of musical education outside of the first nine months of life is unnecessary. Because when the state slashes funding for public schools, what do you think is the first thing to go? Music and art. And Marin is no exception with $55 million slashed from our budget.

But there’s a way to continue to foster creativity in our kids after they are in the hands of the public school system. SchoolsRule – a coalition of business leaders, community leaders, educators, parents, seniors and even folks who generally have nothing to do with kids. Our mission is to help provide a well-rounded education for every single kid in Marin. And bringing back the arts is just one of our goals.

We are focused on three key initiatives in our schools: literacy, technology and the arts. Those three areas are the keys to developing communication, critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills. All things every Marin kid needs outside the womb.

You can help by making a donation to SchoolsRule, which is divided on a per-student basis and distributed evenly throughout the entire county. It’s the most efficient way of getting funds to the classroom – the quickest way to make a difference. After all, it would be a shame to let all of the Baby Mozart go to waste.

YOUR KID IS GREAT

YOUR KID IS WONDERFUL

BUT IF WE ALL JUST FOCUS ON HIM, HE’LL GROW UP IN A PRETTY LOUSY COMMUNITY

This great nation of ours was founded on individualism. But sometimes we get a tad too carried away with that notion. After all, other than Garfunkel (or maybe it was Simon), no one is an island. People reach their true potentials in communities.

School is no different.

As a parent, we’re probably all guilty of having this line of thinking at one point or another: First find the right school, then push for the right teacher (which is quickly followed by hoping we get the right kids in our class, with the so-called “difficult” ones in the other). But what if all the schools were “the right school”? That is to say, what if every public school in town, or even the county, were good enough for your child to go to?
That would be something. That would mean kids all over were getting excellent educations and being afforded enriching opportunities.

But the benefits wouldn’t stop there. Because then, when your kid goes out beyond his school (to play soccer or be in a play, say), he’s meeting and playing with and befriending all those other kids – and they are just as wonderful, well-rounded, emotionally healthy and well-adjusted as he is. The whole community becomes a good influence, not just you.

In a nutshell, that’s our goal. We’re SchoolsRule, a countywide collaboration working with all of the school districts in Marin to improve public education for our kids. Our focus is on three key initiatives: literacy, technology and the arts. Three keys to developing communication, critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills. We’d love you to join us by donating money, which will be divided on a per-student basis and distributed evenly throughout the county. It’s the most efficient way of getting funds to the classroom.

Oh, by the way, have we told you your kid is wonderful? Ah, you already knew that, didn’t you? Good. Now let’s make them all that way.

A. MY CLASS
B. MY SCHOOL
C. MY DISTRICT
D. MY COUNTY

If you answered – “Where on Earth is inequality ever acceptable, and why are we even talking about inequality in the first place when I live in Marin?” – you’re correct.

Even though we live in the land of the perfectly poured latte, where it’s easier to find a flawlessly cut piece of sashimi than a piece of litter on the ground, we also live in a county where there’s inequality. In fact, almost 25% of all students in Marin are underprivileged.* That’s probably more than you thought.

But, we have a plan. Of course we have a plan. We wouldn’t point out such a horrific problem without a plan. And this plan is a good one.

We are SchoolsRule. A coalition of business leaders, community leaders, educators, parents, seniors and even folks who generally have nothing to do with kids. We are the first legitimate cross-county organization in Marin. Our mission is to deliver quality education to every kid, regardless of economic differences. How we do this is by dividing donations on a per-student basis and distributing them evenly throughout the entire county. It’s the most effective way of getting funds to the classroom.

We are focusing those funds on three key initiatives: literacy, technology and the arts. Those three areas are the key to developing communication, critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills. All skills that are vital for every single Marin kid regardless of their household income.

This is where we turn to you. Join us. Lend us your voice, your time or your dollars, and help us spread the love and the wealth around a little more equally.

*24% of Marin students qualify for the Free/Reduced Price Meals Program. Eligibility is based on household income in relation to the federal poverty level (as of March 21, 2012). Source: California Department of Education.

OUR CHILDREN ARE THE FUTURE WHICH PERFECTLY EXPLAINS WHY OUR GREAT STATE MAY CUT 15 DAYS FROM THE SCHOOL CALENDAR

Our children are the future. So, it makes perfect sense that our great state is proposing to cut 15 days from the school calendar.

Even if you don’t have kids in the school system, even if you don’t like kids and can’t stand the sight of them, you should be aghast. But this is exactly what happens when the state cuts school funding. First to go is usually music, art, sports and technology programs. Then teachers, guidance counselors and librarians. And now, the state is proposing to cut actual days from the school calendar. Three whole weeks, to be exact.

To say there’s a huge gap in what is required for a quality education and what the state provides to schools is an understatement. An understatement as big as the gap itself.

But here’s a way to help close the gap. We’re SchoolsRule. The first legitimate cross-county organization to work harmoniously with all of the school districts in Marin. It’s a novel idea, and it’s working.

Here’s why. All donations are divided on a per-student basis and distributed evenly throughout the entire county so that every student and every school in Marin benefits. It’s the most efficient way of getting funds to the classroom.

Our focus is on three key initiatives: literacy, technology and the arts. Three crucial keys to developing communication, critical thinking and creative problem-solving. The state may not find these skills vital, but our bet is that the people of Marin do.

Join us by making a donation to help close the gap. Especially if you don’t like kids, because that’s 15 more days you might be spending with them.

DOES “ACHIEVEMENT GAP” REFER TO THE DISPARITY AMONG STUDENTS OR TO THE DISPARITY AMONG PARENTS?

Marin County. Known for its affluence and natural beauty. But that’s not exactly an accurate portrayal of the entire county. Because we also have our fair share of poverty.

Poverty? Are you kidding me?

No. We’re not.

In truth, there are a growing number of families in the Marin community who are struggling. Struggling to pay for rent, childcare and insurance. Even struggling to put food on their tables. In fact, almost 25% of the student body in Marin is economically disadvantaged.* And the challenges that these families face often lead to poor performance in schools.

This fact makes a difference for everyone in Marin. Because when the people of Marin thrive, our beautiful county thrives.

That’s where we come in. We’re SchoolsRule. A coalition benefiting every single student, in every single school, across every single district.

Our mission is to improve education for every Marin kid no matter which neighborhood they live in. And our focus is threefold – literacy, technology and the arts. We believe that every kid should have the opportunity to reach their full potential regardless of economic differences. Join us by lending your time, your voice or your dollars – which are divided on a per-student basis and distributed evenly throughout the county. It’s the most efficient way of getting funds to the classroom.

Together we can make that achievement gap more of an achievement crevice. Or better yet, a fissure.

*24% of Marin students qualify for the Free/Reduced Price Meals Program. Eligibility is based on household income in relation to the federal poverty level (as of March 21, 2012). Source: California Department of Education.

62 PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUTS ARE UNMOTIVATED

WHAT YOU DON’T REALIZE IS THAT THE OTHER 38% ARE EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE*

The words most associated with “dropout” are words likes “failure,” “deadbeat” and “burnout.” What you would never expect is that there’s another category of dropouts altogether. They are driven, ambitious and will stop at nothing. These are the 38% of tenth-graders in California who left high school to work. That’s right, to get a job.

So why would a tenth-grader leave school for a job when they’re barely driving? Actually, they’re getting jobs to put food on the table. So many families are struggling to make ends meet that kids feel pressure to contribute.

But we live in Marin. So this isn’t a problem we face, right?

Surprisingly, almost 25% of students in Marin are underprivileged.** Their resources are limited, but their opportunities should not be. And with the state cutting budgets, schools are forced to cut guidance counselors, who are crucial in helping kids stay on the right path.

<!–more–>This is where we come in. With a plan. We’re SchoolsRule – the first legitimate cross-county organization to collaborate with every district in Marin. Our mission is to improve education for every single kid, regardless of economic differences. And our focus is threefold: literacy, technology and the arts. The keys to developing communication, critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills.

This is where you come in. You can help by donating money, which is divided on a per-student basis and distributed evenly throughout the county, so that every kid benefits. It’s the quickest and most efficient way to get funds to the classroom so that we can make a difference.

We believe that every kid should go through puberty before going out into the world. Are you with us?

*A Portrait of Marin: Marin County Human Development Report 2012, American Human Development ProjectÒ of the Social Science Research Council.

**24% of Marin students qualify for the Free/Reduced Price Meals Program. Eligibility is based on household income in relation to the federal poverty level (as of March 21, 2012). Source: California Department of Education.

BUSINESSES OF MARIN: EVENTUALLY YOU’RE GOING TO HIRE EMPLOYEES WHO’VE COME THROUGH THE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM SO WHAT ARE YOU OK WITH THEM NOT BEING ABLE TO DO?

I’M OKAY WITH THEM NOT BEING LITERATE.

I’M OKAY WITH THEM NOT UNDERSTANDING TECHNOLOGY.

I’M OKAY WITH THEM LACKING CREATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING SKILLS.

All kids deserve the very best our public schools have to offer. But when almost 25% of Marin students are underprivileged,* that’s not always the case. So, we’re going to make this easy for you, business people. One donation, and you can affect every public school student in the county. And by “student” we mean future customers and employees. And there’s no quicker way for your contribution to make an impact in the classroom. The funds are divided up equally throughout the county on a per-student basis, and are earmarked for one of three key areas: literacy, technology and the arts. When students thrive, the community thrives and then, lo and behold, your business thrives. You okay with that?

*24% of Marin students qualify for the Free/Reduced Price Meals Program. Eligibility is based on household income in relation to the federal poverty level (as of March 21, 2012). Source: California Department of Education.

SO, HOW MUCH LOST POTENTIAL ARE YOU COOL WITH?

The above is not a question any of us want to have to answer. But with the state slashing $55 million out of Marin’s public school system, enrollment growing and the achievement gap widening, it just may be time to take a long hard look at our options.

Options? What options?

Glad you asked. We’re just going to blurt it out: SchoolsRule is our option. Business leaders, community leaders, educators, parents, seniors and even folks who generally have nothing to do with kids, have all come together to develop and support SchoolsRule.

But why is it different from other school efforts?

Must say, you have some excellent questions.

First of all, it’s the first legitimate cross-county organization. All schools and districts in Marin have come together to collaborate on it. They harmoniously work together to efficiently get funds into the classroom (there’s no way to do it quicker) and create real change.

Second, SchoolsRule is focused on three key initiatives in our schools: literacy, technology and the arts. Those three areas are the keys to developing communication, critical thinking and creative problem-solving skills. Plus, then your nine-year-old can fix your printer issues, as a bonus.

Point three is about what our efforts don’t get applied to. Which is administrative stuff. In fact, 100% of all donations affect in-classroom learning. Period.

What a compelling case. Are there any other ironclad reasons why I should support SchoolsRule?

Again, there you go with the excellent inquiry (you a product of Marin schools, perhaps?). Yes, in fact, there is. Marin County is a diverse place. And with that diversity comes inequality. About 25% of students in Marin are underprivileged.* That’s probably more than you thought. SchoolsRule, because each donation is divided equally on a per-student basis across the county, is the ideal remedy.

When we support kids reaching their fullest potential, we’re doing ourselves a favor. Our communities benefit, our county benefits, each person living here benefits. Not just today, but for a long, long time. We cool?

*24% of Marin students quality for the Free/Reduced Price Meals Program. Eligibility is based on household income in relation to the federal poverty level (as of March 21, 2012). Source: California Department of Education.

WE’RE BAAAA-AAACK

WELL, FOLKS OF MARIN, WE’RE ON OUR WAY.

We have the support of business leaders, community leaders, educators, parents and seniors. Heck, we even have the support of people who don’t even like kids.

We have every single district in Marin working together (and without requiring divine intervention).

We have our areas of focus: literacy, technology and the arts. Supporting SchoolsRule represents the quickest way to get resources into the classroom.

And we’ve had some lovely donations roll in that we look forward to deploying at the start of the school year.

So what are we missing?

More of what everybody is missing, actually. The state budget cuts have been drastic. And the truth remains that California ranks 47th for K-12 spending as a percentage of personal income and 50th in the number of students per teacher.* Ouch.

A donation to SchoolsRule goes a long way. Every student in the whole county benefits, and the resources never are applied to administrative stuff. And you know, businesses can make one donation (the sizable variety is nice) and it covers their customers across the whole county.

And please keep your responses coming. Our community has stepped up and is delivering. Look for more communications from us in the coming weeks right here in the IJ. Let’s do this, people.

*“School Finance Facts,” California Budget Project, October 2011

What’s more available to a kid in Marin: Drugs alcohol or a poetry class?

We all know too well: teenagers in this society of ours have access to all kinds of damaging vices, both in the world at large but also right at home. One part of parenting these days is giving kids the values and tools to navigate safely around a constant barrage of not-so pleasant influences.

The other part of raising children, however, is doing the opposite. Providing access to positive influences. Influences that can help instill and develop creative problem-solving skills. Influences that can, at the very least, help grow healthy, well rounded participating members of society. Influences that can even nurture the soul.

The arts do all of the above.

When the stresses mount, when the substances beckon, when the technology overwhelms, a little thing known as creative expression can be quite a liberating tool to have handy.

Of course, the state likes to express itself in an utterly un-creative way: when budgets get cut for our public schools, the arts programs tend to be among the first to go. In a world where success requires smart thinking, creativity isn’t a luxury.

That’s where we come in. SchoolsRule is a countywide coalition benefiting every district and every public school in Marin. We have one mission: to improve the education opportunities for every single kid in the county. We’d love to get you on board with that, in any way you’d like. Volunteer your time. Voice your ideas and opinions. Or donate money, which will be divided on a per-student basis and distributed evenly throughout the county.

The modern world presents a lot of influences to our youth. Sure wouldn’t hurt if one were a muse.