The ‘largest single donation ever.’ Why Amazon sent thousands to this Fresno Unified program
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Hey everyone! It’s Lasherica, the Ed Lab’s engagement reporter. It’s Tuesday, Sept. 20.
It’s easy to identify and call out a problem, right? But what about a solution? A model of success? That’s what great journalists look for.
In reading ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power, I learned about an approach that Propublica journalist Renee Dudley reports as being a possible model for America.
Since 2014, two Dutch entrepreneurs have trained socially isolated young adults who have autism and have dropped out of school to work in technology through an education and job placement program. Dudley’s story dives into how the program started and discusses its setbacks and successes. The story also follows one young man’s journey before, during and after his participation in the program.
Although the program was founded to bridge the gap of 100,000 unfilled IT positions in the Netherlands, I think education systems across the United States can take heed to how ITvitae supported people with autism. There are so many examples of what people, including those with special needs or a disability, can do with the “right support and accommodations.”
The program founders learned what questions to ask prospective students. They learned that most with autism take language literally, so they went from asking questions about a candidate’s hopes in the program to asking them technical questions or instructing them to make a drawing of their home computer networks.
The program utilized a former monastery that had tree-shaded walking paths that provided seclusion - something that gave students a sense of serenity.
And to help with “inevitable miscommunications” between students seeking employment and their prospective employers – many who may not have worked with people with autism – program staff accompany students to job interviews.
Once hired, the organization provides regular coaching to help graduates navigate changes in the workplace that they perceive as disruptive and unsettling.
Obviously, the few things I’ve touched on don’t do justice for what the program has done. You should really go read the story.
“Since 2014, ITvitae has graduated and placed nearly 500 students in technical jobs spanning sectors from agriculture to chip manufacturing to law enforcement,” according to the story.
In America, many teens and adults with autism struggle to navigate the transition from years of special education and support to living and working independently, ProPublica reported.
“Firm data is hard to come by, but some estimates suggest millions of American adults with autism are unemployed or underemployed,” Dudley reported. “Of those who find work, most are in low-wage and part-time jobs, according to Drexel’s Autism Institute.”
Why not try to change that if we can?
School districts must educate students with special needs up to a certain age, and they should know about approaches like this. Perhaps they can use similar models or learn from programs like this.
How do you think this program could impact students with autism if American school districts were to implement something like it?
While you’re thinking on that, read Fresno-area news and the latest work from the Ed Lab.
Amazon gives ‘largest single donation ever’ for FUSD scholarships
Amazon donated $30,000 to sponsor Fresno Unified’s upcoming State of Education Gala, where the district plans to introduce its new Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools to raise money for student scholarships.
“Amazon’s contribution of $30,000 is the largest single donation ever for Fresno Unified scholarships and initiates a new partnership for future programs and career-readiness work between Amazon and Fresno Unified,” FUSD officials said in a news release this week.
Superintendent Bob Nelson said the donation signaled “a new chapter in our ability to invest in our students and our community’s future.”
“As a charter supporter of the Foundation for Fresno Unified Schools, we know that educational and scholarship opportunities for students are transformational and critical in building equitable communities,” said Sally Kay, regional head of Public Policy and External Affairs for Amazon.
The district has awarded more than $1.5 million in scholarships since the fund launched in 2009.
Tickets are now on sale for the State of Education Gala is Oct. 6 at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo.
If you or your business would like to join Amazon in supporting FUSD student scholarships as an event sponsor, contact Josh.Barrera@fresnounified.org.
Here’s what your local Education Lab has been working on.
THE LATEST FROM THE EDUCATION LAB
‘The school is not stable.’ Fresno-area district names its fourth superintendent in a year
After controversial back-to-back firings of the previous two people to hold the job, Fresno County’s West Park Elementary School has a new superintendent — their fourth in less than a year.
Bullard High shooter hoax raises security questions, but FUSD ‘very proud’ of response
“We have a few lessons learned.”
Clovis teachers trying to unionize blame anti-union sentiment for missed deadline
“We’re continuing to do the work to try to show our colleagues that Clovis Unified can do better on behalf of us and our students.”
Attorney says Fresno Unified should pay for student’s therapy after disturbing video
The school district “negligently hired, retained, supervised and employed Brian Vollhardt,” the claim says.
MORE FRESNO-AREA EDUCATION NEWS
Sanger Unified’s Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP) is having a College & Career Night on Sept. 28 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Washington Academic Magnet School.
GEAR UP intends to improve student academics, college attendance rates and family engagement, starting with the eighth grade cohort at Washington Academic that GEAR UP is working with and will do so until their freshman year in college.
Fresno State is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with events throughout September and October, including the Fresno State tradition of La Bienvenida, a media release said.
La Bienvenida will welcome new and returning Latina/o/x students and faculty to campus with entertainment, music, and a resource fair on Wednesday at Memorial Gardens from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Organized by the Latina/o Faculty and Staff Association, La Bienvenda is focusing on Latin America in this year’s celebration.
The other events include:
- Salsa and Salsa, a salsa cooking class with salsa music from Latin America and the Caribbean, is Sept. 23 from 2 to 3 p.m. in the Family Food and Science (Room 108). Pre-registration is required.
- Queering Mariachi, a virtual event presented by the Cross Cultural and Gender Center LGBTQ+ Programs and Services, is Oct. 6 from noon to 1:30 p.m. The event will feature two members of the first all LGBTQ+ Mariachi group in the world, Mariachi Arcoiris De Los Angeles. Pre-registration is required.
- Decolonizing Your Diet: Embracing Latino Foods is a virtual event on Oct 13 from 1 to 2 p.m. It will be a discussion about reducing the stigma and embracing traditional Latino foods. Register here.
A coalition representing Fresno’s diverse community surveyed 1,850 registered voters and found that they support ongoing housing investments in their community and addressing homelessness.
The Fresno County Civic Engagement Table has conducted a “comprehensive survey to capture the attitudes and public opinion toward the management and direction of the city and city council” for three consecutive years, a media release discussed.
The coalition highlighted the following:
Affordable housing (20.5%), homelessness (18.4%) and crime and gun violence (16.9%) remained top issues concerning residents over the past 3 years
Strong support for preventative public safety solutions including access to mental health and job opportunities to help reduce violence
Support to continue Advance Peace programs
“Particularly among Fresno’s most diverse residents, there is a growing sense of unity about priority issues,” said Mai Thao, co-coordinator with the Fresno County Civic Engagement Table. “However, our survey highlights that more work has to be done to make city resources more accessible and more reflective of the community as a whole.”
A little over 30% of residents said they struggle in understanding how to engage or contact their city council representative.
The survey provides “a voice for every neighborhood to City Hall,” Pablo Rodriguez, executive director of Communities for a New California Education Fund, said.
Fresno Unified’s Parent University is having a Dads on Duty program to provide tools, training and leadership opportunities that will build trusting relationships and collaboration between parents and their student, children’s school, the district and the community, an event flyer detailed.
All guardians and father figures are welcome to participate in the first cohort, starting September 22 and lasting until October 30. Meetings will be once a week for those five weeks. The program will be done as a hybrid model with the opportunity to attend in-person or virtually.
The Central Valley Immigration Integration Collaborative is hosting a free immigration workshop at the Cesar E. Chavez Adult School on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The collaborative and its legal partners will offer free attorney consultations and services for visas and asylum seekers.
STILL WANT MORE EDUCATION NEWS? HERE’S WHAT WE’VE BEEN READING
Julianna’s list
All Californians Can Now Access 24/7 Online Tutoring — For Free
Following an announcement of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s investment in public libraries, all Californians will now be able to access free online tutoring at any hour of the day – all you need is a library card. | NBC Los Angeles
Gov. Newsom Vetoes Bill To Fund Free Transit For California Students
The governor explained that he rejected the bill due to the lack of existing funding in the budget for the program. “As LAist previously reported, a study from Harvard in 2015 concluded that access to transportation is the single biggest factor for a person to escape poverty and avoid homelessness.” | LAist
Lasherica’s list
Some childcare workers can get their college loans forgiven — but many are blocked
“‘I am 62 years old and should be looking toward retirement,’ Briggs said. But with loans to pay, she doesn’t think that will happen. She kept chipping away at the loans, even during the suspension of federal student loan payments intended to provide relief during the pandemic. But that extra effort barely brought the debt down.” | The Hechinger Report
Seven new studies on the impact of a four-day school week
As policymakers debate the schedule switch, some research shows a tiny negative effect on rural students | The Hechinger Report
Thanks for reading this week’s newsletter! Make sure to email us with any questions, concerns, comments or suggestions. They’re pretty easy to remember: mine is lthornton@fresnobee.com, Julianna’s is jmorano@fresnobee.com and our editor Rob’s is rparsons@fresnobee.com.
We always look forward to your feedback.
