Public and Political
Will-Building
Helios Education Foundation recognizes that in order to realize true education reform in Florida, we must increase the awareness and understanding of the public and political leaders about the need for improved academic performance and degree attainment by low-income, first generation and minority students, especially in the state’s metropolitan areas of Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and their impact on Florida’s prosperity. To this end, Helios is investing in initiatives that build public and political will around shared goals that improve student performance and attainment and that rally support for educational quality and access in Florida’s metropolitan areas.
Statewide Grade Level Reading Initiative in Florida
Helios has invested $1.2 million in the Children’s Services Council toward the establishment of a comprehensive, sustainable, coordinated, statewide network accountable for grade level reading proficiency rates in Florida. With the engagement and commitment of 14 communities, the Grade Level Reading Initiative is providing access to resources, including programs and services, for children and their families, creating more opportunities for improvement in literacy rates. This initiative is aligning community efforts with the tenets of the National Grade Level Reading Campaign across four sustaining systems – early childhood leaders, business alliances, community leaders and a funders’ collaborative.
Helios has invested $1.2 million in the Children’s Services Council toward establishing a comprehensive, sustainable, coordinated, statewide network in Florida focused on grade level reading proficiency.
Foundation for Excellence in Education
Helios’ $150,000 investment in the Foundation for Excellence in Education aligns with the Foundation’s mission to ensure that all students are challenged by rigorous curriculum, held to high accountability standards and ultimately are prepared for success in college and career. The partnership with the Foundation for Excellence in Education led to enhanced, statewide communications efforts, advocating for higher education standards and aligned assessments. This outreach included focus groups and message development, Spanish-language strategies, collateral development, digital communications and other efforts.
“We know that effective education reform requires public and political support. With that in mind, Helios is not only investing in education strategies and initiatives in Florida, we are working to raise public awareness around education issues and build the community support needed to create change.”
Barbara Ryan Thompson, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Helios Education Foundation
Quest for Education – In Partnership with WEDU, a PBS Station
As part of raising community awareness of the need to improve academic performance and degree attainment by low income, first generation and minority students, especially in the state’s metropolitan areas, Helios is underwriting the Quest for Education program on WEDU, a PBS station in Tampa, Florida. The program explores education issues across the entire continuum, from birth through career and has included segments on equity in pre-school education, the implementation of technology in the classroom and barriers to achieving a postsecondary education. Raising public awareness by facilitating a more in-depth community dialogue about the education challenges facing all students, but especially low income, first generation and minority students, and identifying solutions is helping build an informed community that can advocate for reforms that ensure all students succeed in college and career.
