Next Steps

Accomplishing the recommendations laid out in this report requires commitment from a broad range of stakeholders: school administrators, students, families, educators, school support staff, civic groups, nonprofit institutions, elected officials, and business leaders.

Business as usual will not get the job done for Detroit schoolchildren. The recommendations laid out in this
report are doable – but only if we all work together. These recommendations require strong collaboration and collective action among community partners and stakeholders to achieve greater impact for students and families than we could ever achieve alone.

As outlined in this report, there are many promising and effective efforts under way on behalf of Detroit kids. Members of the Coalition are committed to bringing together multiple partners to tackle these efforts. Coalition members believe strongly that the work will not be successful if it is not highly aligned and mutually reinforcing.

Investment – public and private money, community action, and commitment from Detroit leaders – is essential. There is promising progress on this front from elected officials, private philanthropy, and a variety of corporate support.

In 2018 Coalition members will explore ways to formalize collective action to link efforts that impact Detroit children and families, from cradle to career. Detroiters, if united and pulling together, can do this for our kids.

Our schools. Our moment.