Saturday, July 30, is National Support Public Education Day.

What’s worth celebrating?

Lightening Latte, at Appleton North High School

Nearly 86% of Wisconsin’s K-12 students attend public schools, according to this 2019-20 DPI report. The Appleton Area School District (AASD) is the sixth-largest district in Wisconsin, serving more than 15,000 students and their families. Nearly 90% of students who reside within AASD’s geographic boundary are being educated at an AASD school.

Native American Club

As do all public schools, AASD operates by using local tax dollars, along with state and federal funding. However, the proportion of state and federal funding does not keep pace with needs and inflation.

Funding is an increasing challenge for public education, but we all can help. Here are five ways the Appleton Education Foundation suggests marking National Support Public Education Day:

5. Read your favorite Dr. Suess, Pete the Cat, or Fly Guy book. These are the top three series for first-graders, according to the 2022 What Kids are Reading Report.

Early Childhood activity books

(Better yet, find a child to read to! This will help prevent the “summer slide” when elementary students lose, on average, 20% of school year gains in reading.)

4. Give a social media shout out to your public school alma mater or your child/grandchild’s current school.

3. Send a handwritten note to your (or your child’s or grandchild’s) favorite teacher. It will make their day!

2. Get involved! Learn about volunteer opportunities in AASD. Or, search out other community groups that advocate for public education like the Wisconsin Public Education Network.

Wizard of Oz performance

1. Make a gift! Public education foundations, like the Appleton Education Foundation, rely on gifts from generous donors to help them support educational initiatives that would not be possible with school budgets alone. There are several public education foundations right here in the greater Fox Valley Region:

• Appleton Education Foundation
• Oshkosh Area Education Foundation
• Educational Foundation of Neenah
• Menasha Education Fund
• Winneconne Area Education Fund

The Appleton Education Foundation (AEF) formed in 1997. In the past 25 years, grants totaling more than $5.3 million have supported creative teaching and learning in the Appleton Area School District and community. The Foundation believes in empowering educators by supporting their creative ideas to engage all students. AEF is a 501(c)3, Type I supporting organization of the Community Foundation for the Fox Valley Region. It is governed by a volunteer board of directors. AEF is a proud member of the National Association of Education Foundations.