How the news can help you help Schools

A frequent challenge with helping schools is how to start.

Starting helping a school can be easy as reading a news article then brainstorming ten ways you/your business/your church could help out.

Why 10?  Because 10 ideas forces you to think past common answers or solutions.

Will every idea be a winner?  No.
Will you be able to use every idea?  Of course not.

The goal isn't to come up with 10 super awesome ideas.  The goal is to come up with one idea you could do or use out of the 10.

So let's try it with this article on student achievement in a school in Kentucky. 

Below are 10 ways a church, a business, or a group could possibly help:

1. Identify the 1 and 2 star schools
   
2. See if those 1 and 2 star schools have a business or church partner
   
3. Set up a meeting with those principals or send an email
   
4. Start a reading buddy program or offer to read with a child
   
5. Mentor a child in one of those schools
   
6. Begin an After-School program or tutoring program
   
7. Find out if there are other needs impacting achievement: employment.  Housing.  Food.  Transportation.
   
8. Partner and provide extra-curriculars for students: sports.  Music.  Drama.  
   
9. Provide attendance incentives: toys.  Gift cards.  Sporting Equipment.  Tickets.
   
10.  Appreciate and support teachers.
    

Now that wasn't too hard, was it?!  Is each of those ideas awesome and world-changing?  Nope.  But I know there's a couple winners there and if I lived in Jefferson County, Kentucky, I can take something off of this list and start helping a school.

Want to try?!  Read this article and comment below with your ideas.  

AFTER you've tried, read what I came up.