Increasing Access and Choice in Detroit

The Opportunity

More than 70% of historically marginalized families are interested in pursuing learning opportunities outside of traditional K-12 schools in order to meet their children’s learning needs and interests, yet they are nearly three times less likely to enroll their children in learning outside of traditional school (Tyton Partners, 2022).

In 2018, Detroit, Michigan had only 13.8% of its public school students reading on grade level by age 8. In 2020, that number increased by only 2.2%. At the same time, a Michigan state law passed stating, “Any 3rd grader not reading on grade level would fail,” (that law was repealed in March 2023). The COVID-19 pandemic worsened disparities as children and families scrambled for access to high-quality tools to make virtual learning as effective as that of their neighboring, more affluent school districts.

Exhausted and frustrated with navigating a school system that was leaving their children behind, many Detroit-based parents turned to homeschooling. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, now over 16% of Black school-aged children are homeschooled, with the most pronounced increase occurring in Detroit, Michigan (Eggleston & Fields, 2021). Due to lack of access to quality resources and formalized training in how to approach homeschooling, however, many of these families faced obstacles to education back into their own hands.

Introducing Outbridge

To address the needs of marginalized learners and their families, Outschool.org has introduced a new program: Outbridge. Outbridge aims to educate, empower, and support marginalized families navigating the fractured non-traditional learning ecosystem. Outbridge provides access to curated community-based and national resources and gives families funds to invest in enrichment for their learners. Outbridge also includes information on how to select educational resources based on their children’s goals, academic needs, and interests, and community building opportunities for families to share learnings with one another.

This program is built on the success and learnings from Outschool.org’s Family Financial Assistance Program, which impacted more than 32,000 families between March 2020 and August 2022.

Outbridge launched with 193 majority black homeschooling learners through a partnership with Engaged Detroit, a homeschooling co-op designed to provide parents with community partnerships, tools, and free coaching that makes their homeschool journey individualized based on the needs of the children.

Outschool.org works with local, trusted, and high-quality community organizations to develop resources to help families in Engaged Detroit better navigate their choices and connect with one another. Offerings include the Outschool.com marketplace as well as in-person and virtual educational opportunities from community and national learning providers.

Program Benefits

  • Outbridge aims to increase educational agency for racially and economically marginalized learners by bridging the gaps to ensure families have information, access, and community.

    Outschool.org developed Outbridge with a homeschooling co-op, Engaged Detroit. Our program provided direct financial assistance for Outschool classes, local classes and activities, and funds to cover education supplies, health and wellness, social and emotional development, content knowledge, foundational skills, and real world experiences.

    Parents can access these resources through partners listed on the Outbridge portal, or through local and national partners that are not on the list but fall into one of the relevant categories, which are approved on a case-by-case basis.

    We know that with proper funding, trust, and autonomy, families will find the best way to support the education and wellness of their young learners.

  • Families access Outbridge through trusted local community-based organizations, schools, and homeschooling co-ops. Outschool.org works with these partners to develop resources to help families better navigate their choices and connect with one another. Outbridge provided Engaged Detroit learners and their families with easy access to curated high-quality content through the Outschool.com marketplace, as well as in-person and virtual educational opportunities from community and national learning providers.

    Leveraging the Outbridge partnership, parents have signed up for Outschool classes, YMCA, MSU Community Music School, DAPCEP (Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program) and STEM classes.

  • As a part of the Outbridge community for Engaged Detroit, parents can share resources, experiences, and needs with one another in a live forum. This allows for critical relationship building and an organic scaling of best practices; for example, a parent may share that they can use their Outschool-provided financial assistance at a specific facility based on a learner’s positive personal experience there.

How Outbridge Works

  • Families sign up for Outbridge through an established partnership, such as Outbridge | Engaged Detroit. Parents and caregivers fill out an interest form, and share names and ages of their children.

  • After Outschool.org reviews and approves, each family will receive a PEX card that operates like a debit card. Outschool.org will upload up to $500 per child.

  • Families are encouraged to visit the Outbridge navigation site, which includes recommendations of local and national learning platforms, as well as other service providers, that accept PEX card funds.

  • Once a parent or caregiver finds a class or service they would like to enroll their child/children in, they enter in their PEX card number to purchase, and the amount spent is deducted from their PEX card balance.

Community Testimonials

“We love the teachers. They’re engaging and very interactive. We plan to continue with Outschool and Engaged Detroit next year. We’re very grateful to be a part of the community.”

– Shana S., Outbridge | Engaged Detroit Member

“Being a partner with Outschool has helped us grow tremendously. It’s helped us to prove that funding families to have the tools and resources they need to make individualized learning happen, specifically for their child, is powerful.”

– Bernita B., Founder of Engaged Detroit

80%

Engaged Detroit families say we always or often help them find resources they need.

100%

Engaged Detroit families are promoters of our support.

93%

Engaged Detroit families have spent at least some of the funds provided by Outschool.org.

82%

Learners agreed or strongly agreed they love learning in mid-year surveys.

The Bottom Line

Before Outbridge, only one-third of surveyed families in Engaged Detroit marked “agree/strongly agree” when asked if they have all the information about finding the best educational materials and programs.

Homeschooling is also strengthening families. Jeannetta, the mother of Engaged Detroit learner Skye, says homeschooling has brought them closer and has inspired her to be more like her daughter.

“She encourages me to be bolder every day. If it weren’t for homeschooling, I would never know how bold Skye is. Rather than just hearing from her about her day at school, I get to see her take risks and try new things.”

We know that if families have access to information to choose high-quality resources and funds, and are part of a supportive community, then they can exercise agency to ensure better educational outcomes for their children. We are replicating Outbridge in Grand Rapids, MI with AmplifyGR, and we look forward to continued learning around family-driven learner-led education.