CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – As schools get into full swing for the new year, some educators in Albemarle County are looking to enhance their students’ experience with improvement projects.
And Wednesday, through a partnership with DonorsChoose – a national educational fundraising organization – those goals are getting a boost.
The DonorsChoose community is matching any donations up until midnight for any of the 33 projects that ACPS staffers have on the site currently.
Last year, the library at Western Albemarle wanted to expand its resources. A $890 contribution through DonorsChoose allowed the school librarian to add books, puzzles, games and even Lego sets for the students.
Another teacher used $278 in funds to create a “care closet” at Burley Middle School, designed to provide students with personal care items.
DonorsChoose allows educators to create a virtual shopping cart for their project – a list of items needed from a variety of vendors to make the project become a reality. Donors then choose projects to contribute to.
When the funding level is met, DonorsChoose purchases and ships the supplies directly to the schools.
“They’re not paying tax on it, or anything like that, and it’s never out-of-pocket for the teachers,” said Kelly McCaskill, the chairperson of the DonorsChoose volunteer committee with the ACPS Family Council. “It goes right to the schools and the teachers put it right in the classrooms.”
The Family Council includes parent representatives from every school in the division.
ACPS is in its third year officially partnering with DonorsChoose, raising almost $144,000 in that time. Teachers in the division have used the site since 2009. In all, DonorsChoose has helped ACPS educators raise $449,981, fully funding 937 projects over 28 schools.
The division announced its partnership with DonorsChoose in December 2023. At that time, assistant superintendent for school community engagement Dr. Daphne Keiser said the organization could help ACPS work towards one of its three strategic plan goals – Learning for All.
“A closer relationship with DonorsChoose opens doors to learning,” Keiser said in a statement then. “Every member of our community has the opportunity to join with our teachers in adding authentic, challenging, relevant and inclusive learning experiences for students.”
