Programs

EPiC Schools

School Improvement

Detroit’s students have the talent and determination to succeed—but too often, their schools lack the resources to support them. Even the most dedicated teachers and school leaders struggle to meet student needs when facing chronic underfunding, outdated materials, and the daily impacts of poverty.

That’s why DCF launched EPiC Schools, a strategic partnership with schools designed to remove barriers to learning and help students thrive.

We partner closely with school leaders to identify their most urgent priorities and deliver targeted, high-impact support. At the same time, we engage directly with students and families to understand the challenges they face beyond the classroom.

By addressing both in-school and out-of-school challenges, EPiC Schools creates the conditions every student needs to focus, learn, and reach their full potential.

  • EPiC aims to equip schools with the resources needed to ensure students receive a high-quality education—one where they outperform traditional schools, exceed state proficiency rates, and consistently master grade-level material.

  • We work with our school partners to identify their unique needs. Examples of resources provided include:

    • Transportation for students to and from school

    • Updated curriculum

    • Teacher’s assistants in classrooms

    • After-school and summer programs

    • Tutoring services

    • Training for school leaders and teachers

    • Food pantries

    • Laundry facilities

    • Chronic absenteeism programs

    • Community outreach coordinators

    • Technology

    • Social workers

    • Academics:

      • Student growth, 60% annually

      • Student Proficiency, 8-10% annually

    • School Ambience:

      • School safety, >national average

      • Belonging and Community, >national average

      • Academic Expectations, >national average

      • Student + Teacher Relationships, >national average

    • Student Attendance:

      • Average attendance, 90% daily

      • Chronically Absent Goal, <35%

    • New Paradigm for Education district

      • College Prep

      • Glazer Academy

      • Detroit Edison Public School Academy

        • Elementary , K-5

        • Middle School, 6-8

        • High School, 9-12

  • 1,500 students

Success Ready Graduates

College & Career Readiness

Helping students transition from high school to college or career is vital. DCF collaborates with state agencies and local universities to provide students with the resources they need for life after graduation.

 The program supports students in exploring career opportunities, while also offering college counseling, assistance with the application process, and dual enrollment opportunities at universities. Through these combined efforts, we aim to increase college graduation rates and set students on a path to success in their future endeavors.

  • The goal of our Success Ready Graduate programs is to better prepare students for college or career.

  • We work with our school partners to identify their students’ unique needs. Examples of resources provided include:

    • Access to college-level classes (dual-enrollment)

    • Transportation to and from university partner for dual-enrollment classes

    • College counselors

    • College application guidance

    • Financial aid and scholarship advisors

    • Career counseling

    • Career days

    • Site visits to corporate partners

    • Quarterly trainings for district superintendents, school leaders and school-based college access teams.

    • Increase in high school graduation rates

    • Increase in college matriculation

    • Increase in college graduation rates

    • Increase in scholarships and financial aid

    • Tuition savings for dual-enrollment classes

    • Job placement

    • Detroit Edison Public School Academy

    • Jalen Rose Leadership Academy

    • University Prep Academy

    • University Prep Science & Math

    • University Prep Art & Design

    • Detroit Leadership Academy

  • 2,500 students

OpportunityNow

Direct Student and School Support

At DCF, we are dedicated to improving education and helping students achieve their full potential. Sometimes, a timely act of support can make a lasting difference in a young person’s life, and we strive to be there for those pivotal moments when opportunity and need align.

 

This commitment drives our OpportunityNOW program. More than just an initiative, it’s our promise to provide the support students need to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams.

  • To solve unexpected or unfunded needs of our school partners or their students, to overcome obstacles that could otherwise hinder learning.

  • These needs vary year-to-year, but examples of what we’ve funded in the past include:

    • Computers for graduating seniors

    • Building renovations

    • Libraries and books

    • Innovative training opportunities for teachers

    • STEAM/STEM programs

    • Teacher recruitment initiatives

    • Teacher retention programs

    • District Data-Driven dashboards and platforms to monitor and track student outcomes

  • Each opportunity has its own unique success metrics

  • Some schools who have benefitted from Opportunity NOW investments include:

    • Escuela Avancemos

    • Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences

    • Jalen Rose Leadership Academy

    • Detroit Edison Public School Academy

    • Detroit Public School Community District

  • Thousands of students across all of Detroit schools

District Wise

School Improvement

District Wise is our innovative partnership with DPSCD, created to bring meaningful transformation to the largest school system in the city and state that educates the highest and most diverse population of students in Detroit. We understand the complexities of improving academic outcomes on a broad scale, which is why we prioritize leadership development.

Our current initiative with DPSCD focuses on equipping assistant superintendents and principals with comprehensive training in data-driven practices. Additionally, we provide executive coaching to enhance principals' data-informed leadership and elevate the quality of instruction delivered by teachers to students.

  • By focusing on leadership development and data-driven best practices among district executive leaders who train and manage principals and teachers, the goal of District Wise is to DPSCD educators offer students that result in aggressive and sustainable gains in student achievement outcomes as well as higher retention rates for the district’s top talent.

    • Intensive leadership training

    • New principal development

    • Data-driven executive coaching and teacher training

    • Academics:

      • Student growth, 60% annually

      • Student Proficiency, 8-10% annually

    • School Ambience:

      • School safety, >national average

      • Belonging and community, >national average

      • Academic Expectations, >national average

      • Student + Teacher Relationships, >national average

    • Student Attendance:

      • Average attendance, 90% daily

      • Chronically Absent Goal, <35%

  • 10 schools will be selected in partnership with the district

  • 5,500 students