Thank You for an Incredible First Year
As Groundswell marks its first year, we are deeply grateful to everyone who made it a success: from Memphis Lift parents leaning in on the conversation about highest-need students, to a Juvenile Court administrator in Nashville leading efforts for a new Opportunity Charter School, to New York alternative school leaders sharing best practices on a Saturday morning, and many others.
Your dedication powers our progress. Together with our growing national network of partners, you have set the stage for growth and increased impact in 2025 and beyond.
2024 At-A-Glance: Building Community Momentum & New High-Quality Alternative Schools
Groundswell Network's mission is to identify, strengthen and scale the best alternative school models and work with communities to build exceptional educational ecosystems where the most disconnected, underserved students thrive.
This year, Tennessee has been a standout example of our progress. We have partnered with city and state leaders, along with grassroots advocates, to create meaningful opportunities for the most at-risk children and their families. This recent article gives a great overview of where things are headed right now in Memphis and Nashville.
Highlights in 2024 include:
The passage of new legislation to establish “Opportunity Charter Schools,” empowering school leaders and community partners to build innovative whole-school alternative middle and high school models for the first time in the state
Support for the launch of The Rock Academy, which will be Tennessee's first high school focused on disconnected and foster youth
Building a city-wide coalition in Memphis to open new Opportunity Schools, with Groundswell’s Dr. Bobby White, Shelby County Commissioner Charlie Caswell, and a growing group of education sector leaders, families and community advocates leading the way
A One-of-a-Kind National Network
These initiatives are strengthened by Groundswell’s unparalleled national network of proven practitioners and thought leaders. Our partners include exemplary alternative schools and school leaders from California to New York, leading policy experts (especially in the area of school accountability and quality), and grassroots advocates focused on the need to improve educational options and outcomes for students who are headed to dropping out or worse.
Looking Ahead to 2025: Opportunities for Impact
Groundswell and its partners are poised to grow our initiatives and impact. We are working with communities and system leaders to root our work in the needs and aspirations of students and families who urgently need better school options. We are advancing efforts to codify and share best practices from top alternative schools nationwide and preparing to expand into new regions, partnering with cities and states to better serve their most disconnected youth.
Stay tuned in the new year for updates and information as our work continues to unfold and progress, and thank you to all of our supporters and partners who make this work possible.
