May is Foster Care Awareness Month, and wow—what a perfect time to celebrate and honor the resilience of youth in foster care and the unwavering support of our Central Texas community members who stand by them. It’s also our chance to say a massive THANK YOU to everyone who makes our work possible—our dedicated volunteers, generous donors, committed caregivers, and incredible community partners.
The Reality Our Foster Youth Face
Let’s be real. Youth in Central Texas face some tough educational hurdles—we’re ranked lowest in education nationally and our math scores have not rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. Add on top of this, youth who are in foster care that have had lives involving trauma, disruption, unpredictability, fear, anxiety, and sadness. They have shifted from home to home, school to school, adult to adult and yet are expected to behave and function as ordinary children – to trust adults, follow rules, make good grades.
Did you know?
- A staggering 72% struggle to meet grade-level standards
- Each school change—and many foster kids switch schools frequently—costs them 4-6 months of academic progress
- Less than 3% make it to college, and most end up earning under $25,000 a year
- Foster youth are 2.5 times more likely to enter the justice system
It is, therefore, of critical importance that Learning Bridge is answering the call to uplift these youth and to support their unique educational journeys.
When Tutoring Changes Everything
Take Jake, a bright 10-year-old who was struggling with writing. His foster dad told us:
“He consistently reminds me that it’s a tutoring day and looks forward to working with tutor Chelsea. He ends every session in a more positive mood than when he began. He’s achieved nearly straight A’s— a huge part of that is the confidence he’s built with the help of his tutor. He’s back to viewing school in a positive light and is eager to learn. The time Chelsea spends with Jake already is more than we could ever ask for. Thank you so much!”
Or Seth, who earned his GED thanks to help from his tutor Trish. His foster mom was thrilled for his new future:
“Seth starts at TSTC this fall studying welding. In two years, he’ll have an Associate’s degree! I appreciate everything you all do—you’re truly amazing!”
What Makes Learning Bridge Different
At the heart of our program are thoughtful matching and incredibly caring volunteers. Our Program Manager, Monica—who’s walked in both educator and foster parent shoes—personally pairs each student with just the right tutor. We look beyond academics to consider learning styles, personality, shared interests (from video games to music to favorite sports teams), and even trauma history.
Our extraordinary volunteers commit to relationships spanning full school years and summers. This isn’t casual volunteering—it’s a partnership where tutors not only help students improve academically but also help them to regain a sense of stability, trust, and self-worth. We’re delighted to witness the genuine care in our tutors’ voices and the joy on their faces as they share their students’ milestones: acing exams, solving extra credit problems, and achieving honor roll status. These tutors don’t just teach—they become steadfast stewards, guiding and nurturing their students’ growth. Our Learning Bridge tutors find such rewarding experience in their service that they regularly bring friends and family into our community—expanding our network of adults dedicated to foster youth success.
Why Our Work Matters For Foster Youth
Education isn’t just about books for foster kids—it’s their ticket to stability. Research shows that foster youth who graduate high school are 80% less likely to experience homelessness or incarceration. That’s worth fighting for! When foster youth receive dedicated support, they often experience significant improvements in their academic performance, increased aspirations for higher education, and enhanced social-emotional well-being. In the last year, 100% of our students reported their tutor helped them, 82% felt more confident asking for help.
But our favorite outcome? Hearing kids say things like:
“My grades are SO much better and I am more confident!”
“I was very shy and hesitant at first, but Christy was able to bring me out of my shell and helped me engage with math in a new and easier way. I went from failing math to not only passing, but enjoying math!”
That’s what breaking the cycle looks like, friends!
Join Our Bridge-Building Crew
As we celebrate Foster Care Awareness Month, there are so many ways you can help:
Volunteer: Become a tutor! Don’t worry—we’ll train you in everything you need to know to support these amazing kids.
Donate: Even small contributions make a huge difference. Just $50 covers materials for a month of tutoring.
Spread the Word: Follow us on social media and help more people understand why education matters so much for foster youth.
Join Our Board: We have openings for passionate people who want to help shape our future!
Sources: Texas Education Agency, Juvenile Law Center
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