Doug Roberts is the CEO and founder of the Institute for Education Innovation and creator of the Supes' Choice Awards for edtech companies.
Businesses have long been avid supporters of their local schools, from sponsoring sports teams to donating gift cards to booster clubs. As instrumental as local companies are in helping schools provide educational and extracurricular activities to their students, the current influx of giving is a drop in the bucket of what schools currently need.
By September 2024, school districts are required to spend any remaining Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds allocated during the pandemic. ESSER helped schools catch up after years of underfunding, but now the struggles are re-emerging due to funding that is failing to keep pace with inflation, rising costs in relation to students’ needs, an ongoing mental health crisis and increasing safety concerns.
Schools are hurling toward a financial cliff and taking the future of their communities along with them. Once ESSER funds are spent, schools nationwide are expected to cut spending by $60 billion annually. And, often the first cut comes at the expense of the infrastructure budget, impacting a district’s ability to keep our kids safe.
By entering mutually-beneficial partnerships with their local schools, companies can alleviate the sting of deep budget cuts that impact our student’s futures. Through financial giving, volunteering and advocating for schools, business owners can strengthen their communities and benefit from profitable goodwill.
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The Rewards Of Investing In Local Schools
Many business owners don’t understand just how dire their local schools’ financial outlook is right now. Funding from the federal government only supplies 10% of K-12 education funding, and with a drop in state and local funding, schools’ superintendents, leadership teams and board members, especially in high-poverty areas, have added “fundraiser” to their job role, seeking out partnerships to make up the difference.
By helping fill gaps, not just with dollars but also with time and expertise, businesses can make a significant impact that reverberates throughout the community.
A More Thriving Place To Operate
When schools are strong, the social and economic benefits to a community are substantial, including lower unemployment, reduced crime rates and better health outcomes. One study found improved education increases tax revenue with a return of $7 for every dollar invested in pre-K.
Communities that offer safe, healthy schools attract more qualified workers and create a larger consumer base for local businesses. In addition, when schools need infrastructure upgrades and repairs, and bond measures are approved, the job creation can fuel areas of construction, IT and other related fields.
A Ready-Made Worker Base
As the workforce shortage continues to rage, especially in blue-collar industries, companies need skilled employees immediately. Trying to recruit and train workers from a dwindling pool of talent is taking its toll on the success of small businesses. However, companies that invest in high school career preparation programs can set the groundwork for a workforce that’s equipped to fill critical job openings and secure well-paying careers.
Greater Loyalty With Your Customer Base
Companies that practice meaningful social responsibility are rewarded with higher customer loyalty and sales. Seventy percent of consumers are willing to pay a premium for products and services if a company shares their values, and Gen Z is more likely to base its shopping decisions on a business’s real-world impact on society.
How Companies Can Use Their Influence To Bring Change
Even if your ability to give financially is limited, business owners can create long-lasting change for a school district when their efforts are meaningful and intentional. As the founder and CEO of a membership-based organization serving school distinct leaders, here are three of my suggestions for how you can make a difference:
1. Thinking beyond the football field.
Many donated dollars go directly to district athletic programs because giving is easy and the impact is immediate. But don’t limit your giving to the sports field–spark one-on-one conversations with superintendents, teachers and administrators to discover what they need. In some districts, businesses have even funded support roles, such as school counselors and family/school liaisons.
When business owners work together on a joint mission, the outcome is even more impactful. In Florence, SC, the board of directors of The School Foundation, which is comprised of local business owners and community volunteers, actively raises funds to support Florence 1 Schools. Over the past year, over $140,000 were raised in grants for initiatives, including virtual reality programs and makerspace activities.
2. Become a partner in curriculum and career development.
One of the best ways to build tomorrow’s workforce is to immerse students in learning opportunities that empower them to turn their passions into valuable job skills.
The School District of Pickens County (SDPC) in Easley, SC, for instance, partners with numerous utility, manufacturing and concrete companies through the Pickens County Career and Technology Center to expose students to and prepare them for careers in a variety of industries, from biomedical science to supply chain logistics, through hands-on learning. The program was so successful, they expanded it to middle school.
In addition, students with special needs can enroll in the Project SEARCH internship program, a collaboration between the SDPC and Prisma Health, the largest healthcare system in South Carolina. Participants gain paid experience in administration, food and nutrition and environmental services and receive support from job coaches and worksite coordinators. Conversely, the healthcare company can fill job openings with skilled workers who continue to serve after graduation.
3. Become an advocate for your district.
Take the time to speak with your district leaders to better understand their challenges and use your influence and voice to drive action. Whether raising public awareness for an upcoming bond measure to make schools safer or speaking with legislators to advocate for students’ needs, your position in the community holds power.
Like any organization, school districts need a sustainable and diverse revenue base to keep their doors open. Unfortunately, a decline in equitable funding requires schools to make sacrifices to ensure our students’ safety and keep them on the path toward graduation. As business leaders, we have the opportunity to play a pivotal role in every student’s future, ensuring they have the support and resources they need to succeed.
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