When more than 14,000 Colorado Springs students walked into their Colorado Springs School District 11 classrooms on August 12, each of them already had what they needed. No supply lists, no shopping trips, no missing pencils. D11 partnered with Edukit this year to deliver free, grade-specific school supply kits directly to every kindergarten through 8th-grade student in the district on the first day of school.

Why It Matters in Colorado Springs

D11 is Colorado Springs' oldest and most urban school district, serving a diverse, mixed-income population spread across the city. A significant proportion of D11 students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch — a standard indicator of economic need in school settings. For those families, back-to-school shopping lists can be a real financial strain, especially in August when summer childcare costs are still fresh.

The Edukit partnership eliminates that burden entirely. Every student, regardless of family income, gets the same kit. There's no stigma, no have-and-have-not dynamic in the classroom, and no scenario where a child starts the year without a pencil because their family couldn't make it to the store.

Three Weeks In

School started three weeks ago for D11 students. By now, those supply kits have been used, organized, and (in the case of kindergarteners) possibly already partially demolished. The practical benefit of the program — arriving prepared — has translated into the actual school year. Teachers report that the kits mean less time at the start of the year managing supply shortages and more time on instruction.

For D11 families, this is a meaningful quality-of-life improvement. School supply shopping is often a multi-trip, multi-store exercise in August. Eliminating it — especially for families managing work schedules, multiple children, and the general chaos of the back-to-school season — is a concrete, tangible benefit.

What's Next

The D11 Edukit program covers the 2026-27 school year. If your student is enrolled in D11 and you have questions about what was included in your grade's kit, contact your school's front office. For families considering D11 enrollment for the 2027-28 year, open enrollment information is available at d11.org. For more information about D11 programs and initiatives, visit d11.org.