Excerpt from District Administration
by Anyé Young, Community Engagement Specialist at Aventiv Technologies
Growing up, I faced unique challenges that shaped my educational journey. When I was nine years old, my father was incarcerated, and my family had to adapt to a new reality. For me, education was a way to envision a brighter future despite hurdles.
About 2.7 million children in the United States currently have an incarcerated parent. Research shows that these kids, like me, experience academic challenges from an early age, including placement in special education, grade retention, poor teacher evaluations or even dropping out.
That’s why programs designed to support children of incarcerated parents are crucial for success. ScholarCHIPS, a nonprofit organization that supports children of incarcerated parents, has had a tremendous impact on my life.