Brooklyn’s Community School District 13 on Nov. 6 launched the D13 Partnerships Fund at Brooklyn Org, a new initiative aimed at strengthening ties between the district’s public schools and local businesses, nonprofits, plus cultural institutions.
Seeded by a contribution from the PTA of Arts & Letters 305 United, the fund will support enrichment activities for students in under-resourced schools across District 13. Partnership opportunities may include performing arts residencies, STEM initiatives, culturally responsive arts programming and collaborations with neighborhood institutions.
District 13 includes 28 schools spanning Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn Heights, Clinton Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, DUMBO, Fort Greene, Park Slope, Prospect Heights and Vinegar Hill. While 49% of students districtwide are considered economically disadvantaged and 19% have disabilities, according to the New York State Education Department, those figures vary widely from school to school, creating disparities in access to resources plus opportunities.
"The D13 Fund represents a powerful new way to invest in our students' futures," said Superintendent Meghan Dunn, NYCPS Community School District 13. "By connecting our schools to world-class institutions and neighborhood partners, we can expand opportunities for every child, whether through STEM, the arts, or hands-on learning experiences."
Parent-led fundraising remains a key source of enrichment programs and professional development in public schools, but often widens gaps between well-resourced and under-resourced communities. The D13 Partnerships Fund seeks to rebalance that inequity by channeling philanthropic support toward schools and students most in need, increasing access to high-quality programs and local partnerships.
Brooklyn Org President and Chief Executive Officer Dr. Jocelynne Rainey called the fund a model of how philanthropy and community can work together to advance equity in education.
The fund is about "equity, opportunity, and making sure our schools reflect the full strength of our community," said Cynthia McKnight, president of Community Education Council (CEC) 13.
