COVID has caused student attendance to fall.

According to the Education Recovery Scorecard, a collaboration between the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard University and The Educational Opportunity Project at Stanford University, student achievement in Virginia remains almost a full grade level below 2019 levels in math and three-quarters of a grade level below in reading. This scorecard follows student performance post-COVID-19. Virginia was 41st among states in reading recovery between 2019-2024 and ranked 51st among states in math recovery (including the District of Columbia). Two notable variables were funding and school attendance. Districts that received funding and used it well had higher levels of student achievement. Student achievement was also tied to absenteeism, with post-pandemic gaps in student achievement widening between high and low poverty students, as well as along racial/ethnic lines. Absenteeism was notable as one of the predominant reasons for the slow recovery of educational outcomes. With pandemic funding running out leaders are creating strategies to combat absenteeism. Professor Tom Kane, faculty director of the Center for Education Policy Research at Harvard, said, “The rescue phase is over. The federal relief dollars are gone. It is time to pivot from short-term recovery to longer term challenges such as reducing absenteeism and addressing the slide in literacy.” Absenteeism is especially problematic in Spotsylvania, with rates above the state average. Some school divisions in Virginia have reported better attendance rates among students in work-based learning programs. Indeed, studies by Jobs for the Future (JFF) and Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation showed that WBL programs reduce absenteeism in high schools. Our program is needed to help reduce absenteeism in Spotsylvania. On September 17th, King George Deputy Superintendent joined Superintendent from Spotsylvania and Fredericksburg with others to discuss Career and Technical Education and how to retain local talent here in our community. “One part of the answer that I’m hearing related to retention, how do we keep folks around to stay in the area, is getting them engaged in the life of the community and work-based opportunities,” said Pete Kelly, the dean of education at the University of Mary Washington. A local high quality WBL program is also needed to support the 7% of home-schooled students. Spotsylvania County Public Schools (SCPS) tracks and collects WBL data only for students enrolled in public schools which is where most work-based learning programs are executed. Vocational programs for juveniles in the local detention centers in Stafford revolve around employability skills, off-site outings, education services (K-12) and post-secondary and off-campus work assignments. Programs that involve vocational training, apprenticeship, job training, etc., and trade programs in electrical, HVAC, plumbing, etc., are part of some juvenile centers, but only very few. Our programs offer juveniles in the detention center the opportunity to participate in work-release placements outside correctional centers for eligible juveniles. The foundation's work-based learning programs follow the Virginia Department of Education guidelines notable for their ability to decrease recidivism. The foundation is workis with Spotsylvania County Schools to recruit business professionals. We grow their program with diverse multicultural professionals available to other schools through our foundation.

Rewarding attendance helps keeps the community humming along with students in class and learning. If you can contribute towards our efforts to keep students in school, we would love to add you as a sponsor.

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Students who are unable to be successful members of society tpically miss out on the arts and cultural institutions many enjoy.

We hope to foster that love for the arts early and encourage students to visit our cultural institutions and participate in the art world.

Our museum program at the Spotsylvania Mall is a dynamic arts and culture initiative designed to inspire and empower youth through the exploration of art, history, and community service. Open Monday through Friday, we feature rotating exhibits that delve into optical art, the interplay of vision and creativity, and art that promotes success and humanitarian values among young people. Our foundation's exhibits encourage youth to embrace community service, shifting from being served to serving others. The museum preserves and shares the legacy of local African American civil rights icon Johnny Johnson who played a pivotal role in Fredericksburg's history, including his efforts to stop a riot following Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination.

This program is designed to work within the community in order to reduce gang and gun violence among youth. Gangs recruit from isolated individuals who do not have a healthy social circle. We support numerous outreach programs that cater to young people. We promote the programs, provide venues for the work to get done, and strengthen these programs by providing leadership. Dr. Harmony McGuire, a licensed therapist, leads our workshop component. She uses her knowledge and skills to break the cycle of violence by fostering resilience, education, and empowerment, creating a brighter future for youth and safer communities for all. Some of our topics focus on cyberbullying, self-esteem, etiquette, and other issues tied to mental health challenges in youth. We also support an athletic program in a high-risk community to reach the children recruited by gangs. At-risk youth typically avoid the home where problems exist. Engaging youth in sports activities has proven to be a powerful tool in reducing juvenile violence, particularly in at-risk communities. Studies show that structured sports programs can decrease juvenile crime rates by as much as 30% in neighborhoods where they are implemented. Sports provide a constructive outlet for energy, promote discipline, and teach conflict resolution skills, which are critical in diverting youth from violent behaviors. In our neighborhoods, we have found that programs that provide athletic activity are a common place to protect children seeking a safe space. Participation fosters community and belonging, reducing the isolation often linked to delinquent activities. Moreover, mentorship from leaders offers positive role models, guiding participants toward healthier life choices. Investing in sports programs cultivates safer environments and equips youth with the skills and support networks needed to thrive beyond the game. Our partnered athletic programs also assist our communities as physical fitness has declined, leading to unhealthy outcomes in our youth. With this program, we will target juvenile correctional facilities to decrease recidivism and provide hope for a brighter future. We will do this by working with our partners to make a concerted group effort to reach young people. We will also provide them with encouraging and life-changing literature.

This program keeps each generation involved in Sunday School and participating in programs that ensure their relationship with Christ. The objective is to reduce crime, poverty, and violence in our communities by getting kids off the streets, as the Sunday School movement did in the past. Our primary goal is to win students to Christ to create model citizens and servants of God who will serve as lights that draw the attention of others. We send Bibles and Christian literature to juvenile detention centers. We partner with numerous Christian outreach programs to promote after-school activities that children can join. We advertise these programs locally and promote them in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, and Orange, Virginia. We arrange health fairs, concerts, performances, lectures, exhibits, and outreach programs at the Spotsylvania Mall and throughout our area. We continuously add partners and find ways to use the partners to enhance each other’s programs. We build connections between our partners to have a more effective outreach. The goal is to fill juvenile correctional facilities with Bibles and Christian literature and then add another detention center once filled. We win the next generation to Christ and then challenge them to lead lives like the apostles and Christ. A person who has surrendered to God is a world changer and a sight to behold. Our programs are based on the same award won many years ago, promoting the idea that anyone can succeed if the Lord is with you and you follow His will.