The Renaissance Schools Fund

In our Student Bill of Rights project, each group put down the things they thought should be a necessity for all students in the state of illinois. Some of these things where a safe learning enviroment, safe transportation to and from school, qualified teachers, up to date technologies, textbooks and other learning tools, nurses available anytime during the school day and social work support. These things reminded me of something my family has become involved in this year. The Renaissance Schools Fund is an organization that works to give students living in the inner city of Chicago what we agreed where every students rights. A large group of people from the North Shore have donated thousands and thousands of dollars to open schools, called LEARN Charter Schools, in safe areas. While in these schools, the students wont have to listen to fighting and gun shots, and they can feel safe from the violence most of them see and experience at their homes. Every day, buses come to transport the children to school, and home once the school day is over. Alot of the money has also gone to hiring qualified teachers, nurses and social workers, as well as buying resources such as textbooks, maps, computers, and books to fill the library. This organization gives us proof that having a good learning enviroment really does make all the difference. LEARN Charter schools had ISAT scores that where over 20% higher in both math and reading then any other inner city school, as well as an attendance rate that shows 95% of students coming to class on time, everyday. But the most exciting accomplishment of the LEARN Charter schools is that 97% of its students go on to graduate from highschool. 97%! Thats as good as New Trier! It is just so good to know that so many children are getting the opportunities to become the best that they can be and the chance for a better life.