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The summer is officially underway, as the Inside Dayton internship kicked off the last week of June. Sixteen high school students from 8 different schools come together to explore the world of work in Dayton, learn from amazing speakers representing a wide range of industries, make connections with one another, and gain hands-on experience as they consider their own professional and personal goals. After an info-packed five weeks, students will present their final projects to the Business Advisory Council. This program is a valuable learning experience for students and a meaningful way to incorporate student voice into the work of the Business Advisory Council. Congratulations to all involved! Learn more about the Inside Dayton project at the video below.

The 2022-2023 Joint Statement of Work from the Montgomery County Educational Service Center's Business Advisory Council demonstrates the critical need for collaboration in developing solutions that serve our students and community. Learn to Earn Dayton is a proud partner, as we work alongside all dedicated team members driving toward solutions. Our Director of Workforce, Bryan Stewart, in his role with the MCESC, leads the work. VISION: All member districts’ students are career-focused and have the preparation they need to succeed on the job and in life. MISSION: We will promote substantive and effective collaboration between educators and industry to prepare students to compete in a global economy. Download the Joint Statement of Work to learn about recent work in strengthening connections between employers and students.

The Community Investment Fund was launched when L2ED used a portion of their Blue Meridian Partners investment to launch a grant opportunity for deeply connected, yet historically under-resourced organizations to build their capacity. With guidance and oversight from the Community Investment Fund (CIF) review panel, comprising residents from the Northwest Dayton neighborhoods, Learn to Earn Dayton committed $1.45 million to improve outcomes in education, community well-being, racial equity, and economic mobility for Northwest Dayton’s children and families. L2ED also provided the 28 organizations with technical assistance and professional development to help to build their capacity and ensure sustainability. Beyond the benefit of investing nearly $1.5M in nonprofits directly serving the neighborhood, this process also served as a leadership development opportunity. Residents stepped into roles for nonprofit leadership or grant making decisions, claiming a seat at the table to demonstrate their skills and commitments. As the first year wraps up, we have been thrilled to see what these 28 organizations have accomplished with the investment and how, through capacity building, capital improvement, or programmatic enhancement, they have created better outcomes for Northwest Dayton residents. Learn to Earn Dayton will be announcing Round Two of the Community Investment Fund, based on generous support from The Dayton Foundation and multiple individuals, foundations, and organizations. ​ As an example of how systems transformation is possible, the creation of the Community Investment Fund served as a pilot and demonstration project. Based on its success, The Dayton Foundation has committed to leverage community voice in grant making decisions – putting the power of philanthropy in the hands of the neighbors benefiting from the proposed programs. Learn to Earn Dayton continues as a proud partner in the vision. THANK YOU to the dedicated Community Review Panelists: Rachel Cochran Marian Horton Angela Collie Diedre Keith La’Keshia Copeland Audrey Logan Emily Gomez Alisha Mason Jerome Haney Dedra Porter Jayceon Harris Christopher Raines Dorinda Hill Elexus Renner Geneva Hinton John Terrell Ashton Hood Carlton Williams

On Thursday, June 22, the Northwest Dayton Partnership celebrated the Power of Place: Resident Vision for Northwest Dayton. This event was the culmination of two years of hard work by 375+ residents and stakeholders defining their priorities and setting goals for their neighborhoods. The final document is a plan that will guide future investments and priority goal setting. The sold out event welcomed more than 250 residents and stakeholders who participated in the work. It was a true celebration of the power, dedication, and leadership of the community, with music, food, poetry, an inspiring performance from young scholars, and a message of ongoing commitment from the neighbors who have been leading the effort. Thank you to everyone who came together, over the past two years and for the celebration. The work is just beginning -- see what's coming next by reviewing the plan and sign up to be a part of the ongoing work, led by Omega CDC.

In today's digital age, reliable internet access is no longer a luxury, but a necessity. The pandemic put into focus the critical need for students to have access to home-based internet access and the inequity that currently exists. Twenty-eight million American households still lack high-speed internet, creating a digital divide that disproportionately impacts low-income families, communities of color, and rural areas. There is a new federal benefit program called the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) that could save families $30/month on internet bills, providing access to better job opportunities, education, and more. It is flexible because the discount can be applied to a current internet plan or any plan offered by participating providers. Some providers are even offering plans for $30 or less, so with the ACP discount, they are free! Families and support providers are encourage to check availability/eligibility and apply online at GetInternet.gov. Learn to Earn Dayton, in partnership with Montgomery County Educational Service Center, The Dayton Foundation, Miami Valley Regional Planning Commissions, area school districts, and many private funders, worked together throughout the pandemic to address the digital divide by providing devices and helping address the lack of high-speed internet. “Remote learning is the new normal in education, and the divide in schools between who has access and who doesn’t is getting worse,” said Thomas Lasley, L2ED Director of Policy and Advocacy. “Access to connectivity, quality remote educational opportunities and devices must be addressed.” Learn to Earn Dayton is participating in the #OnlineForAll campaign because we believe in the importance of sharing information about programs like the ACP, helping people sign up, and ensuring that everyone has access to affordable internet. If you aren’t sure how to get involved, check out the resources from Online For All, a national campaign launched by Civic Nation and the U.S. Department of Education working to close the digital divide. Online is for all of us, and together, we can ensure that all our neighbors, family, and friends are able to access the many opportunities that the digital world has to offer.

On Monday, June 16, 2023, Cleveland.com published a letter to the editor from Learn to Earn Dayton's Director of Policy and Advocacy, Dr. Thomas Lasley. In the letter, Dr. Lasley pushed back against the newspaper's previously published opinion that the science of reading should not be mandatory. He argued, "the evidence is clear that the other methods are not working. According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the majority of Ohio's fourth-graders are failing as readers. The reality is that, if current methods were effective, the results would demonstrate as much. They do not. Ohio can and must do better." Ohio should mandate ‘science of reading’ literacy instruction in its schools On March 5, The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com editorial board argued in an editorial that Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposals on literacy instruction should not be mandatory. That recommendation and approach are not in the best interests of the young people of Ohio. The science of reading is not an ideological construct, nor is it “this new shiny thing,” as the editorial put it. Rather, the science of reading is a body of empirically based literature that documents clearly what a young person needs to be able to do to read independently. What the governor is proposing is that science of reading needs to be followed and that we should only be using evidenced-based practices. Read the full letter at Cleveland.com.

Learn to Earn Dayton's Early Grade Literacy Collaborative recognizes that in order for students to read proficiently by third grade they need teachers who believe in the science of reading, home-based resources to empower caregivers, and quality out-of-school opportunities so learning can continue outside the school walls. But there's another critical element, and that is the fact that students need to show up at school. USA Today recently published a deeper look at chronic absenteeism in the early grades, acknowledging that for "kids in the early grades, their attendance is affected both by what's happening with them and what's happening with their parents." On a drizzly, blustery morning in late April, elementary school Principal Jasibi Crews helped students exit their cars, heavy-duty umbrella in hand. Most of the school’s students live nearby and can walk to campus, but given the weather, many had to be dropped off. Crews worried her school’s attendance would take a hit because of the conditions, and by the time she returned to her computer, her inbox confirmed her concerns. One grandma cited the downpour and concerns about a fever. Others said they didn’t have a car. READ MORE...

Calling rising sophomores! Our partners at Montgomery County Educational Service Center have extended the "Inside Dayton" deadline. Interested candidates need to complete and application AND interview by Friday, June 16, for consideration. Watch the video to learn more and fill out the application NOW to be considered for this great opportunity. This is an opportunity for 20 rising high school sophomores from all across the region to meet students from other high schools while also working alongside Dayton professionals, businesses, and educators. Students will work together to help design creative ways to connect students to careers for their school district. During this 5 week internship, students will synthesize research, participate in group discussions, and design career connection activities and events. Students will have the opportunity to present their final projects to the Montgomery County ESC's Business Advisory Council Student Engagement Working Group. WHEN: June 20th - July 20th, Meeting 2.5 hours on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons

We all know that it's critical to keep kids' minds active and engaged over the summer to avoid the dreaded "summer slide" (where students actually lose learning during the months they're out of school). The simple act of reading 15 minutes every day helps to keep students' skills sharp. Montgomery County libraries offer summer reading programs where children can earn prizes for reading achievement. Many programs offer incentives for caregivers, too, so adults can model positive reading habits as they encourage young readers. Additionally, libraries often offer partnerships with out-of-school programs, helping to incorporate summer reading into fun summer camps and clubs. Learn more about each program (Dayton Metro, Germantown, Washington-Centerville, Wright Memorial). Whether there's one child in your life or 50 young learners under your care, sign up online or at your local branch. Take a look at the tip sheet for fun ways to encourage reading and helpful questions you can ask the young learner in your life as you support their reading journey.

Learn to Earn Dayton works to help ensure that high school students have opportunities to attend college or seek a high-quality credential after graduation. Why does it matter? NCES reports that in 2021, the median earnings of associate degree completers were 13% higher than the median earnings of people who completed high school. People who go on to complete their bachelor's degree had 37% higher median earnings compare to associate degree completers. Postsecondary Education = Increased Personal Wealth Because it's so critical to help students transition from high school to college, we're congratulating our partners at Montgomery County Educational Service Center for the launch of the new College Access web site -- a one-stop shop for resources to help demystify selecting a program, completing applications, earning scholarships and financial aid, scheduling campus visits, filling out the FAFSA, picking a major, and so much more. The web site is full of resources and parents/students can link directly to the CollegeAccess Coordinator's calendar, to set a meeting with Mr. Rob Durkle. Explore the site and prepare for postsecondary success TODAY!

The science of reading works. Director of Advocacy and Policy, Dr. Thomas J. Lasley, joined with StriveTogether CEO Jennifer Blatz to call on the State of Ohio to support the science of reading as the exclusive approach to reading instruction. See their Op-Ed from Real Clear Education. It's Time for Ohio to Adopt the Science of Reading By Thomas J. Lasley & Jennifer Blatz June 01, 2023 According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the majority of Ohio’s fourth-graders are failing as readers. And only two out of eight Ohio children living in poverty are proficient in reading. This is a wake-up call that demands attention: early-grade reading proficiency correlates directly with future earnings, college attendance, homeownership, and retirement savings. Equally troubling is that, over the past two decades, NAEP scores have remained mostly flat – that is, until recent declines, which have mirrored national trends driven largely by the pandemic. By all standards, then, Ohio is failing its children. We can address this crisis before it is too late: Governor Mike DeWine is seeking major funding from the legislature to retrain teachers, update textbooks, and support the science of reading as the exclusive approach to reading instruction. This focused investment is the kind of intervention that is needed to put kids – and the state – back onto the path of economic vitality. One of our greatest challenges is the unevenness of classroom instruction. This is often caused by inconsistent teaching methods and training; state law allows districts to teach reading however they wish, and it gives teacher-education institutions much latitude in training future teachers in reading instruction. Indeed, as the National Council on Teacher Quality just announced, some higher-education institutions are failing to provide appropriate and effective preparation as well. By reshaping policy around evidence-based approaches in classrooms and educator-training programs, we can provide children across the state with quality instruction based on the science of reading. Statewide implementation will help improve metrics and bring a consistent approach that has proven results. The science of reading is an empirically based approach to reading and writing, developed over five decades from thousands of studies conducted in multiple languages. It works.

On May 20, 2023, the Social Emotional Learning team of the Summer and Afterschool Collaborative hosted the GOOD VIBES block party. Families from across the region joined the fun at The Hope Center. The event included music, wellness demonstrations, food, playground activities, a petting zoo, gardening experiences, a drum circle, a book walk, a bounce house, and connections to many helpful resources and vendors to support families. The goal of the event was to connect families to helpful resources and have some healthy fun together. Mission accomplished! Congrats and THANK YOU to all the volunteers and support staff who made it possible.