Press Release: Denver elementary schools receive literacy kits to support influx of new arrival students
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Amy Fletcher Faircloth
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Press release: Denver elementary schools receive literacy kits to support influx of new arrival students
Denver, CO – Today the Tuchman Family Foundation and Comcast delivered more than 1,000 literacy kits for new arrival students at three elementary schools in Denver, helping educators meet children’s needs during this year’s unprecedented influx of new arrivals.
Denver Public Schools has welcomed more than 3,500 migrant students since the start of the 2023-24 school year. Many of these new arrivals came after pupil headcounts were submitted to the state for funding, leaving many schools overwhelmed by the pressing need for additional support, staffing and resources.
“Every child should have access to an excellent education, and we know schools are overwhelmed with a range of needs,” said Ken Tuchman, co-founder of the Tuchman Family Foundation. “We are proud to support these schools as they work tirelessly to serve significantly more students with much greater needs than they had planned for this year.”
The three schools receiving literacy kits — Ashley Elementary, McGlone Academy, and Place Bridge Academy — have each received 50 or more new arrival families this school year. Place Bridge is home to Denver’s elementary Newcomer Center, and has over 50 languages spoken. The Tuchman Family Foundation and Comcast also provided funding for McMeen Elementary to make their own literacy bags.
“As our new arrival students get settled in our schools and the community, we want to make sure they have the resources they need to feel connected and thrive,” said Mary Spillane, Director of Community Impact Comcast Mountain West Region. “Having access to the important tools in these kits, as well as through our other digital equity initiatives like Internet Essentials, ensures these students and their families can get and stay connected to this new community and to what matters most to them.”
The literacy bags include pencils, sharpeners, notebooks, English/Spanish sight words and five books in the student’s native language. These bags will give all students access to a home library and a way to practice their reading and writing skills over the summer. The literacy bags were delivered Wednesday, April 30.
"We are grateful to the Tuchman Family Foundation and Comcast for their support of our literacy initiatives and the New Arrivals Fund,” DPS Foundation President & CEO Sara Hazel said. “These programs are crucial for nurturing the academic growth and well-being of our Denver Public Schools students and their families, including those who are new to our community. With this generous support, we are able to directly provide resources to multiple Kindergarten through 3rd grade classrooms in DPS to fill in a gap with a goal to increase early literacy skills."
The DPS Foundation’s New Arrivals, Student & Family Fund works to ensure new DPS families are supported as they enter the Denver community so that new-to-country students have the resources they need to thrive. The fund allows the DPS Foundation to make direct grants to schools or DPS departments to meet the higher demand for services, supplies and resources. Services may include mental health support, basic needs assistance, resources for tutoring, para support in classrooms, school supplies and more.
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About the Tuchman Family Foundation
Based in Colorado, the Tuchman Family Foundation embodies the entrepreneurial spirit of its founders, Kenneth and Debra Tuchman, in its efforts to help people build safe, healthy and productive lives. The foundation is committed to advancing K-12 education innovation, breakthrough medical research, positive social change, community well-being and environmental sustainability.
