News Blog

We have heard the need for a more coordinated strategy, and we are embarking on an effort to bring partners together to create a blueprint to put Montgomery County students on the path to lifelong success through Achieve 2035.

The Buckeye Afterschool Conference remains a vital resource for the Ohio educational landscape, and Learn to Earn Dayton’s participation underscores our commitment to staying at the forefront of OST policy and practice.

Learn to Earn Dayton facilitated a third and final round of the Community Investment Fund (CIF) in 2025, continuing its work with eight deeply-rooted, neighborhood organizations to implement projects in support of the resident-led Power of Place plan. In this report, we are pleased to share their success, express our gratitude for all partners who made it possible, and look forward to what’s ahead.

"With dedicated career navigators coordinating these partnerships, students get the advising, work experiences, and college access they need. This investment from the Pathways Impact Fund will help us further demonstrate the effectiveness of the model across different Ohio communities and create the conditions for statewide adoption."

Learning from the Front Lines: Through expert panel discussions, cohort members explored what defines a successful district and the personal "whys" that drive educational leaders.

While we are proud that 75% of our first and second graders (our priority population) showed reading growth from pre-test to mid-year, the true impact of the CenterPoint Foundation’s investment is best measured in confidence.

Members worked together to refine their vision and determine what they'll need to reach their goals.

Learn to Earn Dayton is proud to announce our partnership with the Omega Community Development Center (Omega CDC) to fund the implementation of the Literacy Tree program at Fairview Elementary. This initiative represents a significant step forward in our commitment to High Impact Tutoring (HIT) as a proven strategy for closing achievement gaps in our community.

We are thrilled to welcome back Kelly Geers to the Learn to Earn Dayton team as our new Managing Director! Kelly brings a wealth of experience to this work and will lead the internal management and operational excellence of the organization in support of our mission, working in deep partnership with the CEO.

“This is progress you can see,” said Vanessa Ward, president of Omega CDC. “Through workgroups and surveys, families consistently asked for opportunities to put down roots, and now homes are coming to Northwest Dayton neighborhoods with the support of partners who see the value of investment. This is the future our residents called for. The demand is being answered with action.”

This critical work cannot be done alone. Our ability to succeed depends on our willingness to collaborate for collective impact. Throughout this special edition, you will see how our region is dedicated to the full spectrum of education. We highlight our focus on early childhood success, innovative K-12 tools, and the development of industry-aligned career pathways for high school students.

The holidays got a little brighter this week at Jefferson Township’s Blairwood Elementary as the University of Dayton Men’s Basketball team traded the court for the classroom.

recently completed and presented a six-month training with Coleridge Institute utilizing a State Longitudinal Data System that allowed the cohort to analyze records of (deidentified) individuals' educational employment records 10 years after graduating high school. The Coleridge Initiative taught and provided the opportunity to conduct action-oriented research within a protected and secure environment.

We are thrilled to welcome Loren Littlejohn to the Learn to Earn Dayton team as Strategic Initiatives Program Coordinator

Learn to Earn Dayton (L2ED) has been actively engaged in national learning initiatives, working to bring the most innovative approaches and strengthened partnerships back to the Dayton Region.

Learn to Earn Dayton is currently hiring for a Managing Director, a high-level, strategic leader who is second in command for the organization, working in deep partnership with the CEO.

Dr. Rowell brings deep expertise in the areas central to the 2Gen mission. She recently retired as a dedicated Professor of Sociology at Sinclair Community College, where she twice directed the Honors Program and was the founding director of the Center for Teaching and Learning.

The fiscal map documents and analyzes the various sources of funding that support programs and services for children and youth in Ohio. The map includes public dollars from federal and state sources and will aid state policymakers, regional partnerships, and advocates alike as it provides the first comprehensive view of existing funding streams.

Learn to Earn Dayton's Director of Data and Impact, Emma Smales, presented a session during the conference on the Power of Data to Drive Local & Statewide Outcomes, sharing several of the data dashboards available on our website.

For the past year, Learn to Earn Dayton has partnered with Children’s Funding Project to develop a fiscal map for the state. The fiscal map documents and analyzes the various sources of funding that support programs and services for children and youth in Ohio. The map includes public dollars from federal and state sources and will aid state policymakers, regional partnerships, and advocates alike as it provides the first comprehensive view of existing funding streams.