K-12 Education
A quality education is the basis for being able to lead a life of independence and prosperity. It better enables you to write your own future. It helps you direct the futures of your community and country as an active citizen. A good education expands what is possible and makes positive outcomes much more probable.
We support a high-quality system of schools that helps children meet educational milestones and move through life as capable and confident thinkers. Where Detroit children go, we follow; our investments span both traditional and charter public schools in Detroit. We work to provide the best for Detroit students: high expectations, equitable treatment and resources, and best-in-class curriculum. We back educators and their development to help them lead effective classrooms and schools. We support partnerships between schools, parents, youth providers, and the community at-large.
Key Indicator
Third-Grade Reading Proficiency
Third-grade literacy is known to be a strong indicator of life outcomes because it is an academic milestone at which point children should advance from learning to read, to reading to learn. However, in 2019, fewer than half of Michigan third graders scored as reading proficiently, and in Detroit, fewer than 16% achieved the level of proficiency. Years of low marks has made literacy a priority for our city and state, further catalyzed by a 2016 Read by Grade Three Law that provides additional help for students and schools—along with a provision that students may be retained if they are one or more grade levels behind in reading by third grade.
Recent News
Recent Grants
Collaborations
313Reads!
A citywide initiative that works to ensure that all Detroit children read at grade level by third grade
Coalition for the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren
A collaborative focused on key priorities to improve the city’s system of schools
Detroit Children’s Fund
A nonprofit organization that makes high-potential investments to ensure Detroit students can get a an excellent education
Every School Day Counts Detroit
A program working hard to end chronic absence
Hope Starts Here
A coalition to ensure a vision to ensure that children are born healthy, prepared for kindergarten, and on track for success by third grade and beyond
Launch Michigan
A cross-section of leaders focused on improving Michigan’s K-12 education outcomes
Teach 313
A collaborative to recruit and support high-quality teachers in Detroit schools
Learning & Evaluation Reports
Detroit Charter Case Studies Summary 2021
In the fall of 2020, Attendance Works and Every School Day Counts Detroit conducted interviews with school leaders from five ... More
Finding the Fix: Embracing Philanthropy’s Role in Transforming an Urban Education Landscape
This article describes the events that led to the fundamental shift in strategy and role for the foundation and its ... More
Two Reports on School Attendance & Academic Outcomes
These reports were produced by the Detroit Education Research Partnership at Wayne State University and funded by The Skillman Foundation ... More
Kids Matter Here: An Analytic Review of the 10-year Good Neighborhoods Initiative
In 2006, the Skillman Foundation set out to change conditions for Detroit kids by creating the 10-year, $120-million Good Neighborhoods ... More
The Added Value of Long-Term Investment in Neighborhoods: Two Case Studies from the Skillman Foundation’s Good Neighborhoods Initiative
What difference can 10 years of steady, responsive philanthropic support make to a resourceful but distressed neighborhood? What is the ... More
Neighborhood Impact Statements
Written by Neighborhood Governance Organizations The Good Neighborhoods Initiative was structured around residents leading change in the their neighborhoods. To ... More
A Decade in Review: Conditions in Detroit and the Skillman Good Neighborhoods
Authored by Data Driven Detroit A report on the overall context for the initiative that draws from a wide range ... More
Community Leadership Strategy: the Arc of Learning, and Neighborhood Profiles
By the University of Michigan Curtis Center This report describes the strategy for building community leadership during the initial years ... More
State of the Detroit Child 2012
The typical data picture one gets for Detroit is fragmented, based on a series of individual, topic-specific portraits. The Skillman ... More
Good Neighborhoods, Good Schools and Skillman’s Strategy for Place-Based Change
This report provides an overview and topline analysis of the Foundation's place-based work from 2008 to 2010. View the full ... More
From Tower to Ground: Systems and Policy Change in the Good Neighborhoods and Good Schools Initiative
This chapter assesses the Foundation's progress in systems and policy change across four elements: Influence, Champions, Leverage and Scale. View ... More
State of the Detroit Child 2010
The typical data picture one gets for Detroit is fragmented, based on a series of individual, topic-specific portraits. The Skillman ... More
K-12 Education Team
Carmen Kennedy-Rogers
Dr. Carmen Kennedy-Rogers is the director of Ground Building, supporting the power of Detroit youth, educators, and residents to shift education policy and systems change.
Terry Whitfield
Terry Whitfield was a partnership manager of Policy & Systems, supporting youth-centered education policy and systems change. He departed from the Foundation in April of 2024.
Lindsey Barrett
Lindsey Barrett worked for The Skillman Foundation from 2019-2024. She served as a partnership manager of Ground Building with The Skillman Foundation, leading efforts to build power with Detroit youth.