Cincinnati Community Learning Centers
Cincinnati Public School’s Community Learning Centers are quickly becoming a model in education reform, rising from an education system in crisis to the top rated urban school district in the state. Other states and districts have visited Cincinnati schools for inspiration in their own community school efforts. Cincinnati CLC has also been a focal point major media attention, being featured on NBC News’ Education Nation program, American Public Radio, and many other major newspapers.
The Coalition for Community Schools has been proud to work with Cincinnati’s community school since its founding in 2000.
Here we have captured a set of tools and resources for local leaders that seek to adapt and replicate the Cincinnati model:
Cincinnati's Community Learning Centers In-Depth Webinar Series
Webinar 1: Building Policy Around Cincinnati’s Community Schools Initiative
January 23, 2013
Building capacity for Cincinnati's award-winning community schools took the collective will of its citizens through its elected officials. Learn how city and school board policy paved the way for brand new schools and a better way of educating all of its children.
Presenters:
Annie Bogenschutz, Director of Training and Development, Community Learning Center Institute
Ohio Rep. Denise Driehaus (D-Cincinnati)
Rocky Merz, Public Information Officer, Cincinnati Board of Public Health
Webinar 2: Examining Community Learning Centers at the Site-Level
January 30, 2013
Get an inside look at Oyler CLC, a PK-12 community school serving Cincinnati’s tough Lower Price Hill neighborhood. Since becoming one of Cincinnati’s Community Learning Centers, Oyler has graduated students in record numbers and improved itself out of state-labeled academic emergency. The school recently reopened inside a brand new building, which features a health clinic, a cutting-edge vision center, a preschool, and a host of wraparound services supported through generous partnerships.
Get the feel and flavor of how a Community Learning Center operates from the perspective of a principal, resource coordinator, and its health and community partners and how it was all brought together by Cincinnati’s district-wide community school strategy.
Presenters:
Darlene Kamine, Executive Director, Community Learning Center Institute
Craig Hockenberry, Principal, Oyler CLC
Jami Luggen, Oyler CLC Resource Coordinator
Dilruba Rahman, RN CPNP, Oyler School-Based Health Center, Cincinnati Department of Health
Rick Chouteau, community partner/Local School Decision Making Committee member, Senior Vice President at Paycor
Download an audio recording of the webinar
Download a PDF of the PowerPoint presentation
Policy Resources:
Video and Media Resources:
About Cincinnati's Community Learning Centers
The
Community Learning Centers Initiative started in 2000 when the Board of Education adopted a vision for a district-wide redevelopment of all schools as centers of their community. A $1 billion Facilities Master Plan was approved by the voters in 2002 with a promise that each school would be a community learning center. The foundational element of the initiative is the engagement of each school and its surrounding neighborhood in the planning, implementation and ongoing governance of its community learning centers. Another key principle is that all partnerships must be financially self-sustaining without dependence upon the school budget.
The goals of the CLC are to support student achievement, revitalize neighborhoods and maximize the community’s return on their financial investments. CLCs act as hubs for community services, providing access for students, families and community to health, safety and social services, as well as recreational, educational and cultural opportunities.
About the Community Learning Center Institute
The Community Learning Center Institute leads the community engagement component of the district-wide Community Learning Center initiative in the city. CLCI helps each Community Learning Center develops its partners and governance structure. The organization also oversees site coordinators in several schools.