It has been a year since I returned to Summit County from Columbus. Many things have changed here and I have spent the last 12 months getting up to speed on our organization. I have worked to understand our projects, obligations and partners, and I have talked to the many dedicated people who serve our children and are concerned with their educational success.
It has been a busy first year and I have many updates to share.
We started 2024 with a strategic planning process supported by our board. Your input is important as we continue to support our children from cradle to career. (Complete our survey here.)
We continue to gather student-level academic achievement data from our 17 public school districts across Summit County. We analyze this data and compare the results against benchmarks recognized across the country that can predict student success. We call this our Cradle to Career Continuum. Read more here.
Our research team, headed by Allyson Drinkard, PhD, is taking a deeper look into the social-ecological systems that impact student educational outcomes. Often referred to as the Social Determinants of Health, the conditions where people are born, live, learn, work, and play affect their well-being, including educational achievement and success. We are building evidence and data visualizations to communicate how elements of this ecosystem impact students across the Cradle to Career continuum.
Finally, our research and facilitation teams have prepared some information around early learning (see below). This issue is critical for us because we know the better prepared students are as they transition into kindergarten, the higher likelihood they will read at grade level in third grade.
More to come on these efforts as we finalize our strategies moving forward. Please keep this in mind; it’s all about the kids.
Thank you.
David James, Ed.D.
Early Childhood Learning and Kindergarten Readiness
This report highlights the importance of high-quality, universal pre-k programs, provides a kindergarten readiness snapshot and highlights the role SEI plays in supporting these crucial learning opportunities. Read the full report here.
Summit County Early Childhood Education 2024
This report provides key early childhood demographic information on our Summit County families, highlights the challenges of childcare in our area and the impacts of social determinants of health on area families. Read the full report here.
SEI to work with City of Akron on evaluation project
We will continue to work with the City of Akron as its evaluation partner for the Violence Intervention and Prevention (VIP) Strategic Plan. New Mayor Shammas Malik noted the importance of the VIP effort as one of his 100-day plan initiatives covering his initial days in office. Learn more about the mayor’s100-day plan.
Summit County Youth Coalition
We recently launched our Summit County Youth Coalition, a powerful initiative dedicated to fostering transformative systems change within the realm of education by amplifying and empowering student voices. At the heart of this program is a collaborative framework where students take a central role in shaping education policies, practices, and decisions.
Cradle to Career Steering Committee
We also recently launched our Cradle to Career Steering Committee, whose members serve as fervent advocates for Collaborative Action Networks, amplifying their impact and championing data-driven decision making. The committee empowers networks to collectively address community challenges by mobilizing resources, building partnerships and providing crucial support. And together, they work toward a shared vision for a better future by driving lasting change and fostering a thriving community for all.
Upcoming deadlines
Transition Skills Summary (TSS) registration begins Feb. 26, learn more.
Strategic planning survey deadline, March 1, access the survey here.
Collaborative Action Network events
Pre-K to Kindergarten Transition Network: March 14
Summit County Parent Coalition: March 16
Language and Literacy Network: March 19
Quality Early Learning Network: March 21
Interested in joining one of our network events? Register here.
Save the date
Their Success Is Our Success event, Sept. 18, Greystone Hall
