Let’s apply some fiscal analysis to this, shall we? Bake Sale proponents will argue the key is greater volume combined with a lower cost of goods sold. Advocates of the venerable Car Wash like to extol their timeless money-making formula: 5 bucks a pop, and free labor.

Both approaches have merit, of course. And both would be 54,999,500 dollars short, give or take.

The sad truth today is that the state has cut back public school funding so significantly, it’s accurate to say it no longer pays for our kids’ education. Communities have to close the gap between funding and reality.

This is where we come in – SchoolsRule. An honest-to-goodness authentic coalition benefiting every single public school in Marin. Across every district. With the sole purpose of filling the gap and delivering a quality education to every student in the county.

We’re the first legitimate cross-county organization that divides all donations on a per-student basis and distributes them evenly throughout the county. It’s the most efficient way of getting funds to the classroom. Our focus is on three key initiatives: literacy, technology and the arts. And we’re looking for like-minded supporters to donate to our cause. Because as much as we love delicious homemade brownies, they aren’t going to fill the gap.

In the meantime, we’d love to hear your take on the raging, ever-polarizing Car Wash/Bake Sale debate. Check a box below and get it back to us, posthaste.

LOOKING FOR: 1 GOOD (LOOKING) MAN OR WOMAN

WE THINK A CELEBRITY COULD BOOST OUR PROFILE.

There is certainly no shortage of talented, passionate, famous folks who happen to call Marin home. And there’s really no better way to support the entire community than by supporting its very backbone: the public school system.

So if you know one, do not camp out in front of their driveway. Repeat, no camping out. But maybe you could tear this ad out and give it to them. Or gently and respectfully ask their participation. From a reasonable distance. Without hounding them. Or encroaching on anyone’s personal space.

If you happen to be a Marin County celebrity and by some stroke of fortune you are currently reading this, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the school system and what you think we can do to close the achievement gap and deliver equal opportunities to kids across the county. And we’re just kidding about the having to be good-looking part.

WE ALL LIKE IT WHEN THE KIDS ARE DIVERSE BUT THEIR OPPORTUNITIES ARE THE SAME AND THAT’S WHAT COSTS MONEY

As parents, we don’t want our kids to live in a bubble. We want them in amongst faces of different shades, experiencing perspectives of different cultures, and learning modern society’s Golden Rule: tolerance. In short, diversity is good for everyone involved.

And make no mistake, Marin is diverse.

Apart from the full gamut of ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds, the students of Marin cover the economic spectrum as well. You may be surprised to learn that underprivileged kids make up almost 25% of the student body in the county.*

Their resources are limited. But we all agree, their opportunities should not be.

Embracing diversity right here in Marin – and creating enriching opportunities for every kid – that’s why we exist. We’re SchoolsRule, a coalition benefiting every district and every school in the county.

We have one mission: to improve education opportunities for every single Marin kid (privileged, underprivileged and everyone in between). And we’re doing this by dividing up donations equally on a per-student basis across the entire county. It’s the most efficient way of getting funds to the classroom. Our focus is on three key initiatives: literacy, technology and the arts. All things that every kid should have no matter which part of Marin they grow up in.

The people want diversity and opportunity in their schools. Yet the state is slashing funding. What’s going to win out? Well, let’s just say that the good people of Marin tend to get what they set their minds to.

*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.

HEY BUSINESSES: MAYBE A DONATION NOW MEANS LESS FIVE-FINGER DISCOUNTS IN THE FUTURE?

It’s no surprise that better education leads to less crime. But when the state cuts the budget, schools are forced to make cuts as well. There goes music, art, teachers, guidance counselors, technology programs, and there goes the after-school sports programs. You know, the very things that keep kids on the right path and out of trouble. The kind of trouble that adds up to a discrepancy in your drawer at the end of the day.

Luckily, we have a plan. And you can help us. We’re SchoolsRule. The first legitimate cross-county organization in Marin to collaborate with every school district. Our mission is to improve education for every single kid in Marin. That’s why all donations are divided on a per-student basis and distributed evenly throughout the county. So one donation from you will help all of Marin.

We’re focused on three key initiatives: literacy, technology and the arts. Three key areas that are crucial for developing communication, critical thinking and creative problem-solving. Which also happen to be three key skills that are crucial for your summer employees to have.

Join us by making a donation to SchoolsRule. Together we’ll produce more happy, well-rounded, well-adjusted members of society. And a few less loiterers.

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.