The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) has launched a new website to share the lessons learned and opportunities that have emerged through its work in supporting the transformation of the Battle Creek Public School System (BCPS). 

In 2017, WKKF announced a five-year, $51 million investment to fund a comprehensive, equity-informed transformation to achieve success for every student in the district.

The commitment was a result of a 2017 New York University study commissioned by BCVision, the community engagement initiative in Battle Creek working to make the city a place where people want to live, work and play. The study revealed racial bias and segregation, income inequality and concentrated poverty in BCPS among people of color, as well as achievement gaps between BCPS and other Battle Creek area school districts. 

A new website has launched to highlight learnings and achievements in education, racial equity and community partnerships as a result of WKKF’s partnership with BCPS and the joint commitment to transforming the school district.  

"The past year has revealed to all of us how urgent it is that we work together to achieve racial healing and racial equity in communities across the country," La June Montgomery Tabron, president and CEO of WKKF said in a press release. "We know that educational equity is a huge part of that. While we know it will take more than five years to undo the damage done by decades of disinvestment in the district, we believe the extraordinary work of Battle Creek Public Schools to transform so much in such a short period of time can serve to inform equity-driven educational transformation nationwide.”

According to the website, the journey to transform BCPS is centered on ensuring equitable educational opportunities for all students, setting them up for success in career, college and the community. The transformation has focused on three key areas: 

•    Racial equity.

•    Community engagement and partnerships.

•    Excellence in education.

The website shares what this work has looked like in action, highlighting achievements within the key focus areas. 

Racial Equity

•    142 in-person and 56 virtual Transformational Teacher Institute (TTI) sessions have been held. According to the site, TTI offers professional development through in-person or virtual sessions that cover equitable practices, trauma-informed practices, social justice, restorative justice and creating welcoming environments.

•    246 students were supported by Communities in Schools (CIS) Site Coordinators in the 2019-2020 school year. BCPS partnered with CIS to utilize school-based site coordinators who refer families to community resources so students can focus on learning. 

•    According to the site, research shows that exclusionary practices (any punishment that pulls a student out of the classroom) both harm student learning and disproportionately impact students of color. BCPS is working toward minimizing school expulsion by implementing restorative practices that de-escalate conflict, repair relationships and help to prevent future challenges. Restorative conversations were used 1,163 times in year three and contributed to a decrease in detentions (from 1,091 detentions in 2018 to 370 in 2019).

Community Engagement and Partnerships

•    When schools closed due to COVID-19, BCPS implemented a food distribution program, the COVID-19 Community Meals Program, providing breakfast and lunches three days a week at various pickup sites throughout the city. CIS helped coordinate meal deliveries for families who could not access a pickup site. Through the program 491,128 meals were distributed between March and June last year.

•    In the 2018-19 school year, 63 families participated in Parent University sessions that help parents obtain knowledge and skills that empower them to support their children’s success and personal development. 

•    BCPS works with local health providers to ensure students have access to physical and mental health care. According to the site, more than 101 students have been served by the Bearcat Health team who provided wraparound services, including mental health services and in-home interventions. The Bearcat Health Team is a cross-system collaborative team that meets monthly to discuss and problem solve student and family challenges.

Excellence in Education

•    Kindergarten readiness has increased from about 15% in 2013-14 to 40% in 2019-20 through new programming, curriculum and resources.

•    New financial incentives for teachers improved teacher retention, 83% of teachers reported that financial incentives were a contributing factor to their decisions to stay in the district.

•    A new career academy structure in partnership with Ford Next Generational Learning offers students career preparedness opportunities where they are able to declare a career-focused pathway and begin interest-based and experiential learning in their sophomore year.
 

BCPS and WKKF’s partnership continues as the five-year grant is now in its fourth year. 

Want more?

Visit the new website.

Read the full 2017 New York University Study of Education in Battle Creek.