School of opportunities for 250 children in Spain

Data indicates that the Opportunities School by Empieza Por Educar has improved learning outcomes for the students who need it most.

The Opportunities School is a project designed to achieve a dual impact. On one hand, it aims to reduce the educational gap for over 200 students aged 10 to 17 who are at risk of social exclusion, through academic support and the development of key skills. On the other hand, more than 40 young teachers and professionals are selected and trained to join the ExE Program, receiving training during the Opportunities School to become effective teachers and “agents of change” committed to educational equity.

In July 2025, we conducted the Opportunities School, enrolling approximately 250 students. The students we serve are between 10 and 17 years old and share the following characteristics:

• More than half (52%) of our students failed two or more subjects in the 2024–25 academic year.

• 75% of students failed at least one subject.

• The majority of families (80%) have a total monthly income of no more than €1,300.

• 84% of students’ parents were born outside Spain.

• Only 18% of students’ families have a higher education level.

As a result of four weeks of instruction from the teachers and young professionals, students have not only improved their grades but also gained greater confidence in their abilities.

To measure the impact of the Opportunities School, the Empieza Por Educar team conducts diagnostic and final assessments in Language and Mathematics, based on standardized tests from PISA, international organizations, and the Ministry of Education and Vocational Training. Thanks to these assessments, we can affirm that students’ improvement relative to international learning standards has been positive. Specifically, students improved their grades by 1.4 points in Language and 2.0 points in Mathematics.

Another key aspect reinforced by the Opportunities School is class attendance. We work with vulnerable students at risk of school dropout and academic failure. One way to monitor this is through the absenteeism rate. In Spain, the absenteeism rate among students from vulnerable backgrounds is 36%. In 2025, the Opportunities School achieved an overall attendance rate of 91%, improving on previous editions (2023: 80% and 2024: 85%).

Providing academic support every summer is crucial to ensure that the most disadvantaged students return to class in September on equal terms with their peers.

The summer period also presents an additional challenge to educational equity. Research (Gabaldón-Estevan and Obiol, 2017) shows that students from families with medium or high resources are able to retain their learning over the summer, while students from disadvantaged backgrounds often lose part of what they learned during the school year. This gap becomes evident when classes resume in September, directly impacting academic progress.

For children who cannot access recreational, educational, or socialization activities during the summer, this period represents a significant disconnection from their usual learning environments. The absence of these stimuli can result in an educational loss of two to three months, particularly affecting the most vulnerable students, who already face multiple challenges during the school year. However, with appropriate measures, summer can be transformed into a period for providing enriching and high-quality educational experiences, helping to reduce existing inequalities (Fundació Jaume Bofill, 2023).

We know the challenge we face is significant, but thanks to the support of organizations and donors, we have the tools to work each summer to ensure that all children receive the academic support they deserve, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

Key Takeaways

• The 2025 Opportunities School enrolled approximately 250 students aged 10–17 at risk of social exclusion.
• Students significantly improved their academic performance: +1.4 points in Language and +2.0 points in Mathematics.
• Overall attendance reached 91%, exceeding previous editions (2023: 80%; 2024: 85%).
• The program effectively targets vulnerable students: majority of families earn ≤ €1,300/month, 84% of parents were born outside Spain, and only 18% have higher education.
• Beyond grades, students gained confidence in their abilities and benefited from high-quality summer learning experiences.
• The project also trains over 40 young teachers and professionals, preparing them as “agents of change” for educational equity.

Dear donor, thank you again for helping us ensure that all children and young people receive the quality education they deserve.

Over the past few months, we have been selecting young professionals committed to educational equity to join our training program for new teachers who aspire to drive systemic change in education. 

More than 2,500 people applied to our selection process. After personal interviews, aptitude tests, and assessments of their attitude and commitment, we selected 43 young professionals. They include engineers, biotechnologists, philologists, and economists, among others, all of whom are firmly committed to dedicating their professional careers to promoting equal educational opportunities in Spain. 

This week, their training has begun at the School of Opportunities. Over the course of four weeks, they will receive instruction on classroom management techniques, the current state of the education system, and public policy. At the same time, they will be teaching more than 250 children from underprivileged backgrounds. 

The students they will be teaching come from families with very diverse backgrounds. Their parents have not had the opportunity to access higher education, have migrated from other countries and do not speak the language fluently, or are living with very limited financial resources. 

The high-quality support in language and mathematics provided by the young professionals we have selected enables the students at the School of Opportunities to resume the school year in September on equal footing with their classmates.

With your contribution, you support the training of these educators who make a significant difference in the classroom and work to ensure that all children receive a quality education, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

Links:

• http://www.empiezaporeducar.org