issues & impact

Identified Need

African American and Hispanic/Latino, students with disabilities, and economically
disadvantaged students nationally and throughout the state of Tennessee experience disciplinary
action at a significantly higher rate compared to other demographics and subgroups.

Challenging the Numbers

Academic achievement gaps are also present among the same group of students that are experiencing higher rates of discipline.

Rutherford County Schools: (In grades 3–5, Math proficiency was 52.5% districtwide, compared to:

39.1%

Black/Hispanic/Native American Students

33.8%

Economically Disadvantaged Students

10.2%

Students with disabilities

The Impact

ROOTED addresses these challenges through From Fear to Fruitfulness, our signature family empowerment program that is designed to provide wraparound support that helps families move from fear, frustration, and uncertainty to confidence, connection, and effective advocacy.

The program is guided by the R.O.O.T.E.D Growth Model, which is a family-centered framework that is designed to build family confidence, remove barriers to engagement, strengthen advocacy capacity and build the village.

Learn More

Initial program outcomes have demonstrated growth in family confidence, advocacy knowledge, engagement, and preparedness to advocate on behalf of their children.