Ten Detroit schools now have a new goal that will help them improve their education.
Those schools – six Detroit Public Schools and four charter schools – will be part of the GOAL Line (which stands for Get on and Learn). It’s a pilot bus loop in Northwest Detroit that will allow families living in neighborhoods surrounding the bus route access to 10 quality public or charter schools in their neighborhood.
The GOAL Line will pick up students at the participating school closest to their home and transport them to the participating school of their choice. When school is over, students will have the option to take a bus back to the school closest to their home or to an after-school program at the Northwest Activities Center. That program will provide families with much needed after-school care and programming.
After-school care will be available until 6:00 p.m. and will include swimming, tutoring and other enrichment activities. Transportation back to any school on the loop will be provided in the evenings following the afterschool programs.
The schools joining the GOAL line are:
DPSCD Schools
- Vernor Elementary School
- Coleman A. Young Elementary School
- John R. King Academic and Performing Arts Academy
- Foreign Language Immersion and Cultural Studies School (FLICS)
- Bagley Elementary School of Journalism and Technology
- Schulze Academy for Technology and Arts
Charter Schools
- MacDowell Preparatory Academy
- Cornerstone Lincoln-King Academy
- Detroit Achievement Academy
- University YES Academy
Participating students must be enrolled and attend one of the 10 GOAL schools.
Children who sign up for the GOAL Line will receive a swipe card they scan as they get on and off the bus. Each time a child swipes their card, parents may receive an instant text message, informing them that their child has safely boarded or exited the bus. Each bus will have an additional adult aid on board. The bus loop will be free for families and funded by the City of Detroit, the Skillman Foundation, Detroit Children’s Fund and the individual schools.
Detroit parents can learn about the participating schools and how to enroll by visiting www.goaldetroit.org or call (313) 224-1222 for more information or by contacting a participating school directly.
The GOAL Line will be operated by the Community Education Commission (CEC), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Its core mission is to break down barriers that prevent families and children from accessing quality schools in Detroit. Specifically, the CEC works to:
- Break down transportation barriers that prevent families and children from accessing Detroit schools
- Build safe, high quality after-school programs for Detroit children
- Provide parents and families with information about schools in Detroit
- Facilitate requests from philanthropic organizations to support education in Detroit
“The CEC’s goal is to ensure every Detroit family has access to a quality Detroit school,” Monique Marks, CEC Chair, said. “Our board looks forward to getting to work and creating opportunities for our kids.”
The CEC’s Board of Directors consists of between 9 and 11 members, appointed by the Mayor of Detroit, who are focused on improving opportunities and outcomes for Detroit children.
The CEC’s initial directors are:
- Monique Marks, Franklin Wright Settlements, chair
- Dr. Nikolai Vitti, DPSCD superintendent
- Tonya Allen, Skillman Foundation
- Marsha A. Lewis, DPSCD teacher
- Ralph Bland, charter operator
- Rachel Ignagni, charter teacher
- Nate Walker, American Federation of Teachers
- Teferi Brent, Detroit 300 and Goodwill Industries
- Sherita Smith, Grandmont Rosedale Community Development Corp.
- Vanessa Kessler, Michigan Department of Education
- Matthew Simoncini, former president & CEO of Lear Corp.
GOAL Line offers Detroit kids better transportation, after school enrichment added by Marge Sorge on
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