Kairospdx

THE MISSION OF KAIROSPDX IS TO ELIMINATE THE PROLIFIC RACIAL ACHIEVEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY GAPS BY CULTIVATING CONFIDENT, CREATIVE, COMPASSIONATE LEADERS WHO EXCEED EXPECTATIONS AT EACH DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONE 0-10.

KAIROSPDX LEARNING ACADEMY PUBLIC CHARTER SCHOOL:KAIROSPDX IS A NON-PROFIT EDUCATION ORGANIZATION SUPPORTING FAMILY ENGAGEMENT, EARLY LEARNING, ADVOCACY AND A PUBLIC SCHOOL CHARTERED BY PORTLAND PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE CHARTER SCHOOL, KAIROSPDX LEARNING ACADEMY, IS OUR LARGEST PROGRAM TO DATE. THE LEARNING ACADEMY OPENED DOORS IN AUGUST 2014 WITH 43 STUDENTS AND ENDED OUR 7TH SCHOOL YEAR IN JUNE 2021 WITH 221 KINDERGARTEN THROUGH 5TH GRADE STUDENTS. OUR STUDENTS REPRESENT BOTH RACIAL AND SOCIOECONOMIC DIVERSITY. IN THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR, 72% OF OUR STUDENTS WERE CHILDREN OF COLOR AND WE SERVED JUST UNDER 40% FAMILIES QUALIFYING FOR FREE AND REDUCED PRICED LUNCH. THE MISSION OF KAIROSPDX IS TO ELIMINATE PROLIFIC RACIAL ACHIEVEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY GAPS BY CULTIVATING CONFIDENT, CREATIVE, COMPASSIONATE LEADERS. KAIROS IS GREEK FOR "THE SUPREME MOMENT, A MOMENT WHEN SOMETHING SPECIAL HAPPENS." KAIROSPDX LEARNING ACADEMY IS SEIZING THIS SPECIAL MOMENT WITH A CHILD-CENTERED, INQUIRY-BASED, MULTICULTURAL CURRICULUM. WE ARE COLLABORATIVE, CREATIVE AND PASSIONATE ABOUT BEING VOICES FOR CHANGE IN OUR CITY, BELIEVING THAT ATTACKING SYSTEMIC RACISM IS FOUNDATIONAL TO OUR WORK AND THAT CONSIDERING OUR OWN IDENTITY, BIASES AND EXPERIENCES IS A NECESSARY STEP TOWARD IGNITING CHANGE. WE OFFER A YEAR ROUND PROGRAM TO WORK TO ELIMINATE SUMMER LEARNING LOSS AND ATTEND TO STUDENTS ACADEMICALLY, SOCIALLY, EMOTIONALLY AND CULTURALLY. WE ARE INTENTIONAL ABOUT FAMILY PROGRAMMING BELIEVING THAT FAMILIES ARE THEIR CHILDREN'S FIRST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHERS.OVER THE COURSE OF OUR WORK, WE HAVE BECOME EVER MORE CONVINCED OF THE REVOLUTIONARY POWER OF LOVE TO TRANSFORM EDUCATION. WE HAVE SHARPENED OUR TRAUMA INFORMED LENS AND DEVELOPED OUR OWN SPECIFIC SCHOOL CULTURE KNOWN AS KAIROS LOVE. WE VERY SPECIFICALLY DEFINE KAIROS LOVE AS CARE (I CARE ABOUT YOU IN THIS MOMENT) + COMMITMENT (I AM COMMITTED TO YOUR LONG-TERM SUCCESS). WE HAVE DEVELOPED A BEHAVIOR APPROACH ANCHORED IN MINDFUL PRACTICE, EMPATHETIC RESPONSE AND POSITIVE IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS LED TO NEW PRACTICES IN OUR BUILDING AND OPPORTUNITIES TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT THEREBY IMPACTING THE SYSTEM AT LARGE.WHILE EARLY IN OUR TESTING HISTORY, BLACK STUDENTS AT KAIROSPDX HAVE OUT-PERFORMED THE DISTRICT AVERAGE FOR BLACK STUDENTS ON THE SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENT CONSORTIUM IN BOTH THE 2017-18 AND 2018-19 SCHOOL YEARS. IN THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR THERE WERE NO STANDARDIZED TESTS DUE TO COVID-19. THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR WAS DEFINED BY OUR RESPONSE TO THE CLOSING OF OUR BUILDING DUE TO COVID-19. KAIROSPDX KEPT RELATIONSHIPS AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR STRATEGY TO SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS THROUGH DISTANCE LEARNING. WE SUPPORTED 221 STUDENTS ON-LINE FOR THE SCHOOL YEAR. OUR TEAM CREATED VIRTUAL CHECK INS AND FAMILY CONNECTION OPPORTUNITIES TO ENSURE WE MET THE NEEDS OF FAMILIES TO OUR BEST ABILITY. PARTNERSHIPSKAIROSPDX CONTINUED PARTNERSHIPS WITH OREGON MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY AND THE PORTLAND METRO NATURE IN NEIGHBORHOOD GRANTS PROGRAM AS WELL AS POWELLS BOOKS, CULLINS, FULLY, WALSH CONSTRUCTION AND THE COALITION OF COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. WE ALSO STRENGTHENED PARTNERSHIPS THROUGH VIRTUAL PROGRAMMING.OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH FULLY, THE PORTLAND, OREGON-BASED ECOMMERCE FURNITURE, AFFORDED NOT ONLY OUR STUDENTS BUT ADULT STAFF AS WELL TO HAVE FURNITURED THAT PROMOTES HEALTH AND WELL-BEING THROUGH ERGONOMIC AND FORWARD-THINKING DESIGN. THEY HAVE NOW PROVIDED INDIVIDUAL DESKS SO ESSENTIAL TO COVID SAFETY TO ALL OF OUR 4TH AND 5TH GRADE CLASSROOMS.OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH POWELLS LED TO INCREASED DOLLARS AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT LITERACY AT KAIROSPDX. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH OMSI CONTINUES TO PROVIDE GREATER ACCESS TO STEM LEARNING FOR BOTH OUR CHILDREN AND OUR FAMILIES. WE HAVE HAD THE DISTINCT PLEASURE TO CONTINUE OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH FOODCORPS, WHICH IS AN AMERICAN NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION WHOSE MISSION IS TO WORK WITH COMMUNITIES TO "CONNECT KIDS TO HEALTHY FOOD IN SCHOOL." FOODCORPS WORKED WITH OUR TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND WILLING WORKERS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE SUSTAINABILITY OF THE PROGRAM. OUR SCHOOL PROGRAM INCORPORATED NUTRITION EDUCATION INTO SCHOOL CURRICULUM. BECAUSE OF THIS PARTNERSHIP, WHEN OUR STUDENTS RETURNED ONSITE IN APRIL 2021, THEY CONTINUED TO ENGAGE IN GROWING FOOD IN THE GARDEN, LEARNING ABOUT THE NUTRITION OF WHAT IS BEING GROWN, AS WELL AS ENGAGING IN OTHER INITIATIVES TO EXPLORE IMPROVING SCHOOL FOOD. ALL STUDENTS ONSITE HAVE ACCESS TO THE GARDEN. THE PANDEMIC BROUGHT ABOUT ADDITIONAL COLLABORATIONS. DURING THE THICK OF THE PANDEMIC CRISIS, KAIROSPDX PARTNERED WITH ALBINA HEADSTART, SELF-ENHANCEMENT INC AND POIC TO ENSURE THAT THE BLACK COMMUNITY HAD THE INFORMATION AND SUPPLIES NEEDED TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE PANDEMIC, GIVEN THE DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT ON BLACK PEOPLE. KAIROSPDX ALSO JOINED OTHER EDUCATIONAL LEADERS AND HEALTH LEADERS TO FORM A HEALTH AND EDUCATION COLLABORATIVE FOCUSED ON HOW TO BETTER SUPPORT CHILDREN IN A TRAUMA-INFORMED WAY.

KAIROSPDX FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM:THE FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMMING RECOGNIZES THAT SUCCESS BEGINS AT HOME AND THAT FAMILIES ARE THE FIRST AND MOST INFLUENTIAL TEACHERS. OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM SERVICES INCLUDE THE EARLY LEARNING NETWORK, FAMILY CONNECTIONS EVENTS AND FAMILY GATHERINGS.FAMILY CONNECTIONS EVENTS INVOLVES PARTNERING WITH OUTSIDE AGENCIES TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO LEARN TOGETHER TYPICALLY INCLUDING OMSI AND THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, WAS LIMITED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC IN THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR WE HOSTED WEEKLY WELLNESS WEDNESDAY SESSIONS FOR FAMILIES TO DISCUSS OVERALL WELLNESS AND CREATED A BELOVED STORYTIME SERIES IN WHICH FAMILIES AND STAFF SHARED STORIES IN A HEALING AND COMMUNITY BUILDING EXPERIENCE.AS THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC REQUIRED OUR ENTIRE PROGRAM TO GO ONLINE, KAIROSPDX PIVOTED TO SUPPORT FAMILIES IN THE FOLLOW WAYS: CARE AND CONNECTION: PROVIDING MORE ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT TO BOTH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES TO MINIMIZE TRAUMA AND BUILD RESILIENCY. OUR INCREDIBLE STAFF WORKED TIRELESSLY TO KEEP OUR CHILDREN LEARNING AND GROWING INTELLECTUALLY, CULTURALLY, SOCIALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY.FOOD: HAVING STAFF CHECK-IN ON INDIVIDUAL FOOD NEEDS OF FAMILIES, COORDINATING TO SUPPORT FOOD NEEDS.TECHNOLOGY: ENSURING ALL FAMILIES CAN WORK SAFELY FROM AFAR WHILE CONNECTING WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, AS WELL AS ENSURING ALL FAMILIES HAVE WHAT THEY NEED FOR DISTANCE LEARNING.OUR EARLY CHILDHOOD GOALS ARE SEEKING TO:- HELP REDUCE THE RACIAL EDUCATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AND OPPORTUNITY GAP BY PROVIDING PROGRAMMING AND A CONNECTION TO RESOURCES THAT IMPROVES FAMILIES' ABILITY TO SUPPORT THE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THEIR YOUNG CHILDREN (0-5). - CREATE MORE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FAMILIES OF COLOR TO ACCESS CULTURALLY SPECIFIC PROGRAMING: - THROUGH KAIROSPDX PROGRAMING - THROUGH REFERRALS TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS - THROUGH ADVOCACY- TO CREATE MORE FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES FOR CULTURALLY SPECIFIC ORGANIZATIONS TO EXIST AND SERVE MORE FAMILIES.THE EARLY LEARNING NETWORK (ELN) IS DESIGNED FOR AFRICAN-AMERICAN CAREGIVERS OF CHILDREN 0-5 THAT FALL MOSTLY INTO THE "FAMILY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOR" CATEGORIZATION OF CAREGIVING. THESE ARE PROVIDERS WHO ARE LARGELY DISCONNECTED FROM THE LARGER POLICY DIALOGUE AND YET SERVE THE MAJORITY OF OUR TARGET DEMOGRAPHIC OF CHILDREN. THE ELN EXISTS BECAUSE WE BELIEVE THAT CREATING A NETWORK FOR IN-HOME PROVIDERS AND FRIENDS/FAMILY/NEIGHBOR CAREGIVERS WILL GREATLY BENEFIT THE SYSTEM OF EARLY CHILDHOOD, BOTH ENHANCING THE QUALITY OF EARLY CHILDHOOD BUT ALSO EXPANDING THE POLICY AND PRACTICE DIALOGUE. BY STRENGTHENING THE SERVICE DELIVERY WITHIN THE NETWORK, WE WILL STRENGTHEN THE SYSTEM ITSELF ENSURING MORE OF OUR KIDS ARE IN FACT READY FOR KINDERGARTEN AND LIFE BEYOND.EARLY CHILDHOOD IMPACTSDURING THE PANDEMIC YEAR, THE EARLY CHILDHOOD IMPACTS INCLUDED: - 3 MEETINGS FOCUSED ON STEM AND EARLY CHILDHOOD WITH FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS PARTICIPATING- HANDS ON DEMONSTRATIONS ON HOW TO INTEGRATE STEM INTO EVERY DAY EARLY CHILDHOOD THINGS- SPECIAL GUEST WITH LINDSEY MURPHY OF THE FAB LAB- ONGOING PARTNERSHIP WITH OMSI TO ENSURE BLACK CHILDREN IN EARLY CHILDHOOD HAVE ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES THAT SUPPORT EARLY CHILDHOOD BRAIN DEVELOPMENT. KAIROSPDX ALSO CONTINUES INVOLVEMENT WITH THE PARENT ACCOUNTABILITY COUNCIL (PAC) WHICH ALLOWED KAIROSPDX A VOICE WITH POLICY ON DIVERSE FAMILIES. THE PAC WAS CREATED TO GUIDE EARLY LEARNING, MULTNOMAH COUNTY'S WORK. SOME OF THE VIEWS OF PAC ARE THAT THEY DON'T BELIEVE THAT MOST EXISTING SYSTEMS ARE BEST DESIGNED TO SERVE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. THEY ARE TRYING TO DISRUPT THE NARRATIVE THAT DOMINANT CULTURE ORGANIZATIONS HOLD ALL OF THE POWER TO CREATE CHANGE.

POLICY IMPACTS:KAIROSPDX HAS ALSO HAD A NOTABLE IMPACT ON POLICY IN THE STATE OF OREGON. WE HAVE CONTINUED ADVOCACY TO SUPPORT POLICIES THAT PROMOTE THE EDUCATIONAL SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING OF BLACK CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AS MOST EVIDENCED BY OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE BLACK STUDENT SUCCESS STEERING COMMITTEE IN OREGON AND THE EARLY LEARNING COUNCIL OF OREGON AS WELL AS THE COMMITMENT TO BLACK COMMUNITIES COMMITTEE THAT IS PART OF OREGON COMMUNITY FOUNDATION'S METRO LEADERSHIP COUNCIL. IN 2020/2021 KAIROSPDX CONTINUED COLLABORATION WITH COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS WORKING TO PROMOTE POLICY THAT PROTECTS AND SUPPORTS THE BLACK COMMUNITY:1. PASS OREGON'S FIRST REGION-WIDE PRESCHOOL FOR ALL EFFORT THAT PROVIDES QUALITY EARLY LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR EVERYONE IN MULTNOMAH COUNTY. 2. KAIROSPDX SUPPORTED THE PASSING OF THE FOLLOWING STATE BILLS: A. PASSAGE OF HB2166 TO ALLOW MORE FUNDING FOR CHARTERS SERVING HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS B. PASSAGE OF SB236 BANNING EXPULSIONS AND SUSPENSIONS FOR PRE-SCHOOL AGED YOUTH C. PASSAGE OF BILL TO ADD EQUITY COMMITTEES TO SCHOOL BOARDS 3. CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT IN BLACK STUDENT SUCCESS NETWORK AND DEVELOPMENT OF A STRATEGY TO INCREASE POLICY IMPACTS THROUGH THE NETWORK. 4. PARTICIPATION IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACIAL JUSTICE COUNCIL EDUCATION RECOVERY COMMITTEE HELPING TO ADDRESS SYSTEMIC INEQUITIES STATEWIDE.