Greetings!

A few weeks ago, I shared how Spring at Common Ground is a season of incredible energy—from the first seeds hitting the soil on our farm to our seniors presenting their defenses and preparing for graduation.

As we approach the end of our fiscal year on June 30th, I’m writing to share an important update on our funding and to ask for your partnership in finishing this year strong.

The Reality of Our Funding

There has been a lot of news recently regarding Connecticut’s supplemental aid package for 2027. While we are encouraged to see the state investing $273 million into municipalities and school districts, the reality for charter schools, like ours, remains complex.

Of that massive investment, only a small fraction—roughly $8.7 million—is earmarked for all charter schools statewide to share. While we are grateful for every dollar, the "funding gap" we face is still very real. Our students continue to receive significantly less support than those in traditional districts—often a difference of over $6,000 per student, every year.

At Common Ground, we refuse to let a funding formula define our students' potential. Your fiscal year-end gift is the bridge that closes this gap.

All School Hike on May 29, 2026.

A Legacy of Leadership

We have always been pioneers. Common Ground isn't just a local treasure; we are the first and oldest environmental charter school in the United States. For nearly three decades, we have been the blueprint for how a school can operate alongside a farm, in a forest, in a city, and be a center for environmental education and community justice all at once.

Today, that legacy lives on through our three-fold mission:

• Our Charter High School: Where urban agriculture and environmental justice create the next generation of leaders.
• Our Children’s Programs: Kids Unplugged, NatureYear, School Yards, and all of our programs ensure that New Haven’s youth have a pathway to a lifelong connection to nature.
• Our Urban Farm: Which produces over 12,000 pounds of food for our school and community each year.

The truth is, we are only able to continue this work, deepen our impact, and nurture our legacy thanks to supporters like you. Public funding only covers a portion of what it takes to run a working farm, maintain our campus, and provide a world-class, place-based education. You are the reason our roots run so deep and our students can flourish.

Help Us Close the Year on a High Note

As our high schoolers prepare for graduation and we wrap up another incredible school year, our eyes are already turning to what comes next. Your support right now is critical to helping us finish this year on a high note, while giving us the stable foundation we need to plan intentionally for the upcoming year.

Even as the school year ends, our campus doesn't pause. We are currently gearing up for a vibrant summer, preparing to welcome hundreds of children to our summer camp and setting up our summer workforce students in the Green Jobs Corps for paid, meaningful work on our farm and in our community.

Will you help us reach our goal before June 30th?

While the state funding gap directly impacts our charter high school, the truth is that Common Ground doesn't function in silos. Our school, our urban farm, and our children's programs are deeply intertwined—each one relies on the success of the others to thrive. When you support Common Ground, you aren't just funding a classroom; you are fueling an entire ecosystem where public education, community agriculture, and youth workforce development grow together.

Whether it is $25 or $2,500, your contribution ensures we can fund all three interconnected programs, launch our summer initiatives seamlessly, and step into the next school year ready to thrive.

Thank you for standing with the oldest environmental charter school in the nation, and for believing in the power of our students and our mission.

With gratitude,

Briona “Bri” Jenkins

Director of Development and Communications

Connect with us

Common Ground | (203) 389-4333 | https://commongroundct.org/