Those of us in education often look at July as the winding down of summer, myself included. But I’m not going to rain on anyone’s summer parade by talking about back to school - yet. That’s next month’s letter.
There is plenty of summer left. So, if you haven’t taken any time off, schedule it. Enjoy the weather, the sweet corn, the outdoor concerts and all the other great things we have in northeast Ohio. Taking a break will give you the energy for the important work to be done this fall.
David W. James, Ed.D.
You're invited! Tickets on sale now.
Join us Sept. 18, 2024 at Greystone Hall as we share the 2023-24 Summit County Educational Progress Report and unveil our new strategic plan. Be a part of this extraordinary event that exemplifies the power of community engagement in shaping the lives of Summit County students.
Tickets are available to purchase via credit card, ACH, mailed check or purchase order. Learn more about the event and secure your spot today!
Our research and data team recently completed two evaluations of local programs. Read the project executive summaries below.
SPARK Ohio - Get Ready For School Program
The Get Ready for School (GRFS) program is built to familiarize children with the rules and routines of a kindergarten classroom and to help them develop literacy, communication and social skills important for kindergarten success. Read the executive summary of the program evaluation here.
United Way Family Resource Centers - Parent/Caregiver Survey
Survey data was collected from 234 parents/caregivers across five Akron Public School Family Resource Centers between Jan.- April 2024. Read the executive summary here.
First Things First Ice Cream Social
Members of the First Things First Network met at House Three Thirty for an end-of-the-year ice cream social and took time to celebrate this year's success in all three networks (Quality Early Learning, Pre-K to K Transition and Language and Literacy).
Groundwork Ohio's Road Show Listening Tour
Dr. David James recently moderated a panel at Groundwork Ohio's Road Show Listening Tour. The panel discussed early childhood and maternal health challenges plus strategies for supporting Ohio’s youth.
