What stories need to be told about education in eastern Racine?
That’s the question driving Racine County Eye’s new Education Matters initiative, a comprehensive effort to reshape how we cover schools, students, and learning in our community.
Through a combination of community input sessions, strategic events, and sustainable funding partnerships, Education Matters will create a roadmap for the news organization’s dedicated education reporter while ensuring coverage reflects the real needs of parents, educators, and students.
Key takeaways
- Free community discussion from 5 to 7 p.m. on April 23 at The Main Project shapes future coverage
- Ticketed breakfast summit from 8 to 10 a.m. on May 21 at Memorial Hall
- Pay It Forward program ensures accessibility for all voices
- Initiative guides Report for America education reporter coverage
What is Education Matters?
Education Matters is a structured initiative combining community input, strategic events, and dedicated reporting to transform how education news is covered in Racine County. The program launches with two key events:
- A free community discussion on April 23, 2025, from 5 to 7 p.m. at The Main Project, 1014 State Street
- The K-12 Education Matters breakfast on May 21, 2025, from 8 to 10 a.m. at Memorial Hall, 72 7th St.
Why we’re doing this
“Education coverage needs to go beyond school board meetings and test scores,” says Denise Lockwood, Publisher of Racine County Eye. “Through our Report for America partnership, we’re bringing a dedicated education reporter to our community. But first, we need to understand what stories matter most to our readers.”
The initiative will:
- Create a 12-month roadmap for education coverage
- Build sustainable funding for in-depth education reporting
- Establish an ongoing dialogue with education stakeholders
- Measure and report the impact of education coverage
Who it serves
Education Matters connects multiple stakeholders:
- Parents seeking clear information about schools
- Educators sharing classroom challenges and successes
- Students whose voices need to be heard
- Community leaders making education decisions
- Business leaders investing in future workforce
- Taxpayers following education investments
Attending the Free Community Discussion
Racine County Eye will host its first community conversation about education coverage from 5 to 7 p.m. on April 23 at the , 1014 State St., in Racine. Parents, educators, students, and community members will help identify the stories that matter most in eastern Racine’s schools.
During this free two-hour session, participants will engage in facilitated small-group discussions to share their experiences, concerns, and hopes for local education. We’ll work together to map out story ideas, identify pressing issues that need coverage, and ensure diverse voices shape our education reporting from the ground up. This grassroots input will directly inform the topics we’ll present at our May 21 breakfast summit and guide our education reporter’s coverage priorities.
Light refreshments will be served. While the event is free, we encourage participants to register to help us plan for space and materials.
Attending the breakfast
During this dynamic two-hour event at Memorial Hall, attendees will help shape the future of education coverage in eastern Racine.
The morning includes a light breakfast, networking opportunities with education stakeholders, and structured discussions about our community’s critical education issues. We’ll present the key story themes identified during our April community session, introduce concrete plans for coverage, and facilitate meaningful conversations between parents, educators, business leaders, and community members. Participants will have direct input into how stories are told, which issues receive priority coverage, and how we measure the impact of our reporting.
The breakfast creates an important space for connection and collaboration while establishing a sustainable framework for in-depth education journalism that serves our community’s needs.
The K-12 Education Matters breakfast is a ticketed event with multiple ways to participate:
Individual Tickets:
- General admission: \$50
- Friend of RCE: \$75 (includes donor wall recognition)
- RCE Neighbor: \$100 (includes donor wall recognition)
- In the Newsroom: \$150 (includes oral history project participation)
- Nonprofit Supporter: \$300 (includes one-year nonprofit advertising)
Making Education Matters Accessible:
We believe everyone’s voice matters in education. Our Pay It Forward program ensures cost isn’t a barrier to participation:
- Sponsor Two Tickets: \$90 (Your ticket plus sponsor someone else)
- Request a Sponsored Ticket: Available for educators, parents, students, and education support staff who need assistance with the ticket cost
- Group Sponsorship: Organizations can sponsor multiple community members
“Education coverage needs to serve everyone in our community,” says Denise Lockwood. “Our Pay It Forward program ensures we hear from all voices, regardless of ability to pay.”
Supporting through sponsorship
Education Champion ($3,000):
- Six months of advertising (May through November)
- Featured logo placement
- Recognition in dedicated education newsletter
- Four breakfast tickets
Education Partner ($1,500):
- Three months of advertising
- Logo placement
- Recognition in newsletter
- Two breakfast tickets
Education Supporter ($750):
- Logo placement
- One breakfast ticket
Building sustainable education coverage
This initiative supports our Report for America education reporter by:
- Creating clear coverage priorities
- Building community connections
- Establishing sustainable funding
- Measuring impact
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