GILROY, CALIF. — Five nonprofit organizations and government agencies have joined forces to improve school readiness for low-income families in Gilroy’s Glen View neighborhood, with support from a $2.285 million, five-year grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
The new Glen View Alliance will reach beyond traditional approaches to school readiness by providing support services to families and childcare providers as well as preschool services for children. For example, the Alliance seeks to improve the economic stability of low-income families by providing job readiness training, access to English as a Second Language classes, and incentives for promoting family savings through Individual Development Accounts.
“English skills and economic stability in the family are very important in improving children’s chances of success in school,” said Larry Drury, executive director of Go Kids, Inc., which is spearheading the Alliance. “These skills also help low-income parents become more involved in their children’s education.”
“School readiness and parent involvement are keys to children’s future achievement in school,” said Edwin Diaz, superintendent of Gilroy Unified School District. “These services will certainly lay the foundation for future success.”
Alliance partners include Rebekah Children’s Services, Mexican American Community Services Agency (MACSA), Santa Clara County’s School-Linked Services, and the Gilroy Unified School District.
The project focuses on the neighborhood surrounding Glen View Elementary School west of Monterey Road and south of 6 th Street, because of the need for effective childcare and school readiness programs for low-income families there.
“This is a high-need neighborhood with a strong heritage in the heart of Gilroy,” said Art Barron, president of the Gilroy Eigleberry Neighborhood Association in downtown Gilroy. “These families need access to a wide range of services that will help their children succeed—and that’s what this Alliance offers.”
This investment is part of an overall effort by Knight to improve school readiness in low-income neighborhoods of Santa Clara County. Since 2001, Knight has invested over $9 million toward this effort in the county. The Alliance grant is complemented by Knight investments made in 2003 and 2004 dedicated to dental services (through the Health Trust), individual development accounts to encourage families to save for education (through Lenders for Community Development and Catholic Charities), and free income-tax preparation (through Catholic Charities). The Glen View Alliance will also build upon and work in coordination with FIRST 5, the major state and county school readiness initiative funded by tobacco tax proceeds.
In addition, the Alliance represents a long-term commitment by Knight to the residents of Gilroy.
“This Alliance offers a vibrant and holistic approach to improve school readiness for children in low-income families,” said John Williams, Community Liaison Program Officer for Knight Foundation in Santa Clara County. “It also represents an important step for Knight in addressing the unique needs of the South County area.”
The Alliance will begin providing outreach and a full range of services in January 2005. To find out how to participate, call Larry Drury of Go Kids at 408-779-1943.
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation promotes excellence in journalism worldwide and invests in the vitality of 26 U.S. communities.