Principals' Student Support Fund

Removing Barriers. Supporting Students.

85% of Grand Rapids Public Schools students are from families whose incomes are below 185% of the federal poverty level (that’s $41,348 for a family of four).  In 2009, the district’s Homeless Program served 1,118 students.  The SAF recognizes these statistics reflect a potential for significant barriers to students’ academic success—in response, we created the Principals’ Student Support fund to provide a resource for those essential or emergency needs that, while not strictly academic in nature, nonetheless impact a child’s ability to learn.  Working together with community partners like United Way’s 211 and the Kent School Services Network, the SAF provides this resource so that needs like alarm clocks (to get to school on time), eyeglasses or dental care are fulfilled, allowing students to focus on learning and staff to focus on educating.