Giving

Dear Learning by Design Community,

Welcome to the 2018-2019 school year, our 1st year as a community here at Learning by Design Charter School. We are so very happy to be a new school in this community providing a new and innovative learning experience for our children. We are even more thrilled and proud of the families that have chosen to join us on this educational journey. In this short amount of time, we have accomplished so much. Yet, there is still so much more for us to do. And this is where we need YOUR help to ensure we accomplish our goals.

The teaching and learning journey we are embarking on is not traditional. Research and data show that to ensure our children are prepared and ready to compete for the jobs and careers of tomorrow, we MUST do school differently today. The Learning by Design learning model is developing skills, talents, knowledge and character traits in our students that will greatly enhance their current and future lives. But, this kind of learning experience comes at a cost. It requires an investment in making sure our staff has the training, materials and equipment, and expertise needed to provide an excellent learning environment as well as making sure our students have access to the most current, updated, state of the art resources, curriculum and experiences possible. And, as we know public education is already severely under-funded. It is very difficult if not impossible for a public school to thrive under the current funding structure. So, imagine how hard it is for a school committed to engaging in more current, updated and innovated instructional practices.

Add to that the fact that we are a new charter school. The start-up costs for a new school (purchasing of school furniture, required curriculum, classrooms materials, new technology and equipment, and training for teachers, etc.) are an added expense that already established schools do not have to worry about.

That being said, our start-up costs along with our commitment to innovative education practices has come with a hefty price tag. It is a price tag that we are committed to because our kids deserve it. But, the reality is that it is a price tag that outweighs our current income. So, in order to remain fully committed to the mission and vision of Learning by Design without cutting corners or compromising the learning experience for our kids, we need YOUR help.

Today, we are excited to announce the launch of our first fundraiser, Grow LbD. Grow LbD is the first major school fundraiser that we are embarking on this year and it requires us to work together to meet the lofty financial goals that we have for our school.  

This year, we need to raise a total of $250,000!! That’s a lot but it is doable! (Please attend our monthly Parent Meetings to learn more details about the budget and how this funding is being used.)

I bet you are wondering:  “Why is the goal so large?”

The answer is simple:  Our dreams and goals for our school and your kids are large… but the funding we receive from the government is not. Let me provide some context about how public schools (and Charters) are funded in order to help build a deeper understanding and, hopefully, a deeper commitment to achieving our goal together as a community.  

The state sets each school’s budgets according to its current enrollment. As a new school, our number of enrolled students is smaller than most schools. This is normal for a new school, but not so good considering the additional new school costs we’ve had to incur. So, the funding we have received only covers the number of students we have enrolled, not the other start-up costs and the costs for innovative programs and practices. Therefore, until we are fully enrolled (hopefully next year), there will be a deficit. To cover this deficit for this year, we need to raise $250,000.

Here’s how we can and will do this:

• Learning by Design is writing grants and seeking donations and sponsorships from local and national businesses and corporations

• We are asking for monetary donations and gifts from friends and families in the community

• We are reaching out to individual philanthropists and benefactors that support education to ask for donations and support

• We need YOU to donate and/or ask your friends, family and/or employer to give to support our school

• We are creating online Crowdfunding campaigns

• We need you to help spread the word about our school to your friends and family to bring more students into our school community

Here’s how the money will be spent:

Funds raised will provide our children with core programming that reflects the Learning by Design mission and vision which includes:  

• Academic excellence by way of personalized learning experiences via state of the art curriculum and learning materials including technology

• Project-based learning which requires having a variety of materials and supplies to support that hands-on learning and design activities the students are continuously engaged in

• Small student/teacher ratios and small class sizes. Each class has a minimum of 2 teachers (Lead Teacher and Associate Teacher) at all times. This is how we are able to give each student the personalized attention they need to ensure academic success and socio-emotional support and development.

• Support our Maker Space: this is where the magic happens. The students engage in technological and design activities on a regular basis. This requires the expertise and focused the attention of one person.

• After school and enrichment classes like art, PE, STEAM, and mindfulness classes and other activities and programming to enrich the children’s daily experiences.

Funds received from the state do not begin to cover these components. So, we have to rely on you and the community at large to make them possible. Otherwise, we become just another school.

Our fundraising campaign begins now (effective immediately) and will run through the end of April 2019 (and beyond). The students are also getting involved and have planted the seeds for growth. You’ll soon see what they are doing.   

To donate today please click on one of the links below. If you see the value in all that your children have experienced thus far and want to have more of this, then share this link with your friends, family, neighbors and community members to encourage them to donate as well.

Thank you, in advance, for your continued support.  We appreciate you and look forward to a continued partnership with you and your family!

With Respect and in Partnership,

The Learning by Design Charter School Community