Franklin School in Belleville, Illinois on DonorsChoose

{"monthlySchoolDonationEnabled":false,"callToActionDisplayName":"Franklin School","outOfStateSupporters":16.7,"allowSchoolLevelGiving":true,"hasFundedProjects":true,"projectGratitudeData":[{"teacherId":9785273,"projectId":9348866,"letterContent":"Thank you for your generous donations to support this project.\r\n\r\nIn the past, it was commonly believed that students needed to meet certain prerequisites before accessing books or beginning to read—we now know that all students can benefit from early and consistent exposure to literacy experiences. Our program has been blown away by the progress we've seen since implementing a new curriculum based on the Comprehensive Literacy for All framework and research.\r\n\r\nWe have seen our students thrive as they are introduced to academic routines such as shared reading, predictable chart writing, and independent reading and writing. Having easy access to age-appropriate books is crucial for continued exploration and exposure to text and print concepts. Your donation to this project supported the creation of a rolling library, which has been an incredible addition to our program.\r\n\r\nMany of our students' favorite books are from the Cat Kid and Dog Man series. They had so much fun looking through the books that arrived in their classroom—finding some of their old favorites and discovering new ones along the way.\r\n\r\nThank you again for your generosity.","fullyFundedDate":1754044118011,"projectUrl":"project/chapter-one-books-for-bright-minds/9348866/","projectTitle":"Chapter One: Books for Bright Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ritterbusch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9785273"},{"teacherId":9785273,"projectId":8889852,"letterContent":"I wanted to take the time to thank you for your generous donations and support of our program. Your support allows us to continue facilitating hands on learning opportunities for our students related to phonemic awareness, an important foundation for reading. \r\n\r\nThe resources your donations provided will be used to make kits for next school year to support students during Learning Letters activities, part of our curriculum, ReadtopiaGO. We have seen wonderful progress utilizing this program and the \"Letter of the Day\" framework. The excitement we have seen in the classroom trialing this kit is a wonderful indicator of the fun and success all classrooms will be able to experience next year. You have made a difference in the lives of wonderful students and provided a resource for teachers for years to come.","fullyFundedDate":1737650095218,"projectUrl":"project/literacy-for-all/8889852/","projectTitle":"Literacy For All","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ritterbusch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9785273"},{"teacherId":9785273,"projectId":9011974,"letterContent":"Thank you again for your generosity in supporting the project, \"Literacy for Little Learners\".\r\n\r\nOur preschool students have been enjoying these books during independent reading opportunities offered daily within the classroom. Independent reading is an activity that is required within our ReadtopiaGO curriculum, but has not always been easily accessible for our early learners with complex needs who are knew to print concepts. With these books, students have independent and unrestricted access to explore books in their own way and time. It has proven to be the most beneficial time to see the print concepts they've truly learned this year such as book orientation, turning pages, and an increasing awareness of letters and words within print. \r\n\r\nOne student is very interested in farm animals, specifically \"Old McDonald\". When he saw the book as a choice, he immediately grabbed it and went to the closet where the farm and farm animal toys are kept. As he turned the pages of the book he would point out each animal, make the animal sound, and find the matching animal toy. It was wonderful to see something that he plays with daily expand through print.\r\n\r\nWe deeply thank you again for your support. We are looking forward to using these resources, and continuing to see student growth, for years to come!","fullyFundedDate":1734651631468,"projectUrl":"project/literacy-for-little-learners/9011974/","projectTitle":"Literacy for Little Learners","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ritterbusch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9785273"},{"teacherId":9785273,"projectId":8864338,"letterContent":"I wanted to say a heartfelt thank you from our team to you for the generous donations made to fund our project, \"Working Our Hands, Working Our Minds\". The kits that we created with the materials from this project have allowed us to incorporate work on important fine motor skills into each classroom within our Early Childhood-5th grade program.\r\n\r\nFor our students just beginning in the ECE program, to those getting ready to transition to middle school, these tools allow us to support continued development related to grasp patterns and stability, that directly impact an individuals ability to write, in a fun and engaging way. \r\n\r\nWe are very much looking forward to witnessing our students continued success and progress through the use of the tools your donation so kindly provided. Thank you!","fullyFundedDate":1730460944485,"projectUrl":"project/working-our-hands-working-our-minds/8864338/","projectTitle":"Working Our Hands, Working Our Minds","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ritterbusch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9785273"},{"teacherId":9785273,"projectId":8842913,"letterContent":"Thank you so much for your generous donation. It is appreciated more than you know! I have been able to create a manipulative resource kit that supports my fine motor and math centers. My students have been excited by each mini eraser figure and the variety I now have will make planning more efficient as themes change throughout the school year. So far, my students have used the mini erasers for hand in-hand manipulation skills and pincer grasp development during fine motor centers. I am also planning ahead for pattern activities during math rotations in the coming months. I am looking forward to creating materials and using the manipulatives with my students. \r\n\r\nOnce again, thank you for your support!","fullyFundedDate":1729177326372,"projectUrl":"project/manipulative-madness/8842913/","projectTitle":"Manipulative Madness","teacherDisplayName":"Ms. Ritterbusch","teacherPhotoUrl":"https://cdn.donorschoose.net/images/placeholder-avatars/272/teacher-placeholder-7_272.png?auto=webp","teacherClassroomUrl":"classroom/9785273"}],"pageName":"schoolpage_26643","usesDonorsChoose":true,"infoPageType":"school","demographicsInfo":{"numStudents":134,"numTeachers":11,"percentFrplEligible":95,"percentAsian":0,"percentBlack":50,"percentWhite":28,"percentIndigenous":0,"percentLatinx":9,"showFreeAndReducedPriceLunchInfo":true,"showDemographicsInfo":true,"sourceTooltipString":"the National Center for Education Statistics","gradesServed":"K - 6","studentTeacherRatio":"12.2:1","demographicsDataSource":"MDR School","equityFocus":true,"titleOne":true,"metroType":"SUBURBAN","ncesMetroType":"SUBURB_LARGE"},"inStateSupporters":83.3,"schoolId":26643,"financialInfo":null,"twitterShareText":"Learn more about Franklin School on @DonorsChoose:","schoolName":"Franklin School","canonicalPageUrl":"schools/illinois/belleville-public-school-district-118/franklin-school/26643"}

About this school

Franklin School is a suburban public school in Belleville, Illinois that is part of Belleville Public School District 118. It serves 134 students in grades K - 6 with a student/teacher ratio of 12.2:1. Its teachers have had 18 projects funded on DonorsChoose.

Equity Focus School

Support towards this school will directly impact historically underfunded classrooms.

Public School

Title 1

Grades K - 6

134 Students

11 Teachers

301 N 2nd St

Belleville, IL 62220 View local requests

https://www.belleville118.org/o/fs

Evidence-based impact

Inspire teachers to stay in the classroom and boost student achievement.¹

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Ms. Vero, a DonorsChoose teacher for 9 years.

Kindergarten teacher at PS81 - Robert J. Christen School in Bronx, NY

Franklin School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Franklin School Demographics

95%

of students receive free or reduced price lunch

Source: the National Center for Education Statistics

59%

of students are Black, Latino, Native American, or Asian

Schools in districts that mainly serve students of color receive substantially less state and local support than similar districts that serve primarily White students. Learn more about this gap, why it exists, and how you can help close it.

Franklin School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

DonorsChoose makes it easy for anyone to help a teacher in need, moving us closer to a nation where students in every community have the tools and experiences they need for a great education.

Franklin School

$9,972

raised using DonorsChoose

projects funded

teachers funded

donors

projects for basic supplies

projects for technology

projects for books

projects for art supplies

Franklin School has received support from 20 individuals from Illinois and 4 individuals out-of-state.

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season! Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.

Franklin School

About this school

Equity Focus School

Franklin School Teachers on DonorsChoose

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Franklin School Demographics

Franklin School Support on DonorsChoose Last updated Dec 5, 2025

Franklin School

Help teachers & students in your hometown this season!
Use code HOME at checkout and your donation will be matched up to $100.