Education Equity Fund of Alexandria

The Education Equity Fund of Alexandria (EEFA) was born out of the COVID pandemic to support children and families living in the Atkins Public Housing attending Maury (now Naomi L. Brooks) Elementary School. These students- artists, athletes, and valued members of our community- needed support and tutoring to keep up with their schooling and manage the isolation caused by COVID. And the parents/guardians, all single-mother heads of household, needed support as they tried to balance their careers and the needs of their children. Initially, a beloved former teacher agreed to take a one-year leave of absence and tutor her former students during this year of uncertainty. The students and families loved the support and the results spoke for themselves, so the fund continued when the students returned to school in the fall of 2021. 

What began as emergency academic support has evolved into a comprehensive, wrap-around model grounded in trust-based, multi-year relationships. Since 2021, EEFA’s Student Support Coordinator has worked consistently with these families, providing academic monitoring, social-emotional counseling and support, postsecondary guidance, and connection to local services - ensuring they have access to vital resources and support for academic, social, and emotional growth. 

All financial support goes to funding direct support of local students and their families with no organizational overhead. 

The Student Support Coordinator works directly with students to assess and address their needs, including tutoring, mentoring, after-school programs, and summer opportunities. She assists students with signing up for programs, monitors their engagement, and ensures they are connected with necessary academic or support services. The program also promotes college and career readiness, and executive functioning skills. The coordinator also works with school staff to advocate for students and communicate their needs to ensure they receive the best possible support in school.

EEFA has also grown into a two-generation approach, supporting the needs of students’ parents, and ensuring they have the resources for supporting their family’s basic needs, identifying stabilization barriers that schools alone could not address. 

Here are just a few ways EEFA has supported students and families through the years, thanks to Spring2Action and the Alexandria community: 

• Worked with ARHA to install 15 new washers and dryers for families

• Purchased or secured via donation basic housing needs (i.e. new mattresses, furniture, cookware, etc.)

• Provided holiday food support

• Assisted with emergency rental and utility needs

• Supported the mothers in navigating medical, housing

• Helped parents navigate the 504 and IEP process

• Encouraged mothers to complete their own education

• Identified and enrolled students in ACPS and ALX programs that enhance their education and training (ie. EIP program and Cornerstone Craftsman apprenticeship)

• Enrolled students in summer camps and youth city employment programs 

• Informed parents and students of important ACPS forms, deadlines, and events 

For example, one participating mother recently earned her GED, secured employment and has recently been promoted. During the same time period, she saw her son receive a local scholarship we supported him in applying for—demonstrating the potential trajectory to go from stabilization to thriving. 

Since its founding five years ago, EEFA has maintained a 100% high school graduation rate among participating seniors. Students have consistently advanced on time through middle and high school, and each graduating senior has developed a documented postsecondary pathway plan. This track record demonstrates the effectiveness of EEFA’s structured advising and academic monitoring model.

Parents have shared valuable feedback on the impact of the program:

• Amber has provided my son with great support throughout the school year. He enjoys their check-ins and feels comfortable opening up to her about things he is experiencing

• I found many aspects of this program helpful. My children have another outlet beyond family, they engage in conversations about responsibility, and they receive the support they need to be their best selves.

• This program is wonderful, and I am so grateful for the support me and my family have received from it. 

• My son, who doesn't usually open up to many people, has opened up in this program, which has been wonderful and extremely helpful. I am grateful for all the support provided to both of us. 

Students have also shared valuable feedback on the impact of the program:

• 100% of participating students report that they feel more confident in setting and achieving academic and personal goals since joining the program. 
• Students feel like the program helps them with things like: the importance of going to class on time with a good attitude, how to manage grades and turn in work on time, how to manage conflict, finding programs at school they didn't know existed, and staying focused.