Learning to Work (LTW), one of the most successful programs for re-engaging high schoolers who have dropped out or fallen behind, is being threatened. Projected cuts to the program, which funds many of the services that make transfer schools the uniquely supportive, would be devastating for transfer schools across the city and the students they serve. Join us in protesting these short-sighted cuts!

Eskolta stands with communities of color and with Black Lives Matter activists and protesters. We also recognize the role we play in what we are seeing in the world today. Over the life of this organization, we have not done enough to dismantle white supremacy. Through internal work over the past few years, we have come to see the ways our approach must change.

Here’s what we are doing.

In response to school closures in NYC and other emergency measures being taken at the city, state, and national level to reduce the spread of COVID-19, Eskolta is taking the steps to protect our collective health and support the educators we work with as they are asked to adapt to online learning in the coming weeks and months.

The Eskolta Network is a community designed to connect educators in the shared challenge of transforming learning for students who have struggled and fallen behind. It is an effort by committed educators to serve students who have been under-served by our system.

Teaching doesn’t have to be a lonely act. In fact, multiple studies have found that collaborative teaching actually improves student success and leads to a stronger school culture. For East Brooklyn Community High School (EBCHS), a transfer school in Brownsville, Brooklyn, adopting lesson study proved transformational.

Using our EDUCATE methodology, we work alongside educators to strategically research and reimagine the systems in their schools, then carefully design, prototype, and expand them to reach more students.

We focus on supporting students who have struggled in urban public schools in the past. Every child deserves a quality education and these students are most at risk of dropping out and missing out on their potential.

The best educators know that learning will always be more than what appears on standardized tests. Together we are creating new metrics and new ways to support not only college and career readiness but also character, community, and compassion in our students.

A wealth of information is available to schools, but if not understood, it is useless. Through our research and analysis, we work with educators to make sense of data and turn it into thoughtful guidance to inform change.