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The Dayton Daily News Learn to Earn Dayton Hope Collins, director of Birth to 3 initiatives Believe it or not, babies are great listeners. And when they hear lots of conversation, that helps wire their brains for life. More than 85 percent of brain growth occurs during the first three years of life. In a study by Harvard University’s Division of Medical Science and the McGovern Institute for Brain Research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, researchers found that children who were exposed to significant conversation scored on average 12 percent higher on standardized language assessments. Particularly significant, the benefits of conversation are just as strong for low-income children as for high-income children. This suggests that increasing the amount of language low-income children hear could help bridge the achievement gap associated with poorer children. When researchers compared peak hours of conversation, children in high-income households had 50 more conversational “turns” than children in low-income households. (A turn is when an adult speaks and the child responds, or vice versa. A single turn could be as short as, “Do you like carrots.”...”No!”) If someone asked how many conversational turns you have with a child in your care, you’d probably say, “We talk all the time.” But most people would struggle to quantify their talk. That’s where LENA — short for Language Environment Analysis — comes in. This Colorado nonprofit organization has developed researchbacked technology that puts powerful data in the hands of parents and childcare providers. It starts with a baby wearing an easy-to-slip-on vest that has a tiny, highly sensitive digital recorder that picks up language in the child’s environment. Often called a “Fitbit for talking,” LENA technology tracks the number of words, conversational turns and screen time a child experiences — without recording the content of the conversation. Parents or teachers then can see charts showing how many words a child heard, how often the child was spoken to and when the child was hearing only a few words. LENA has different models for families and teachers, each with tips for increasing the amount of language a child hears. Users like the LENA trackers because the data encourages them to increase their talk time. Groups across Montgomery County have been working to introduce LENA technology locally. This year home visiting programs, parent groups and childcare programs will be participating in LENA pilots. “I am always looking for ways to help families be great teachers for their children,” says Christina Hayslip, a home visitor with Help Me Grow Brighter Futures. Learn to Earn Dayton also is working with Rosa Parks Early Learning Center, the Dayton Metro Library, Catholic Social Services and others to start LENA parent groups and use the technology in classrooms. Groups will form throughout summer and fall. Reference the Dayton Daily News article here: http://epaper.daytondailynews.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=28a981dc-ab8c-4581-a036-4c22bbc6a151&utm_source=app.pagesuite&utm_medium=app-interaction&utm_campaign=pagesuite-epaper-ipad_share-article&appid=2942

The Dayton Daily News Dayton Public Schools is trying to add more resources to several of its schools by growing its summer programs and applying for large state grants in partnership with community organizations. DPS and its partners are applying for five more 21st Century Community Learning Center grants, which aim to help economically disadvantaged children who attend a low-performing school. Each federally funded grant provides a school with about $850,000 over five years for high-quality academic and enrichment activities, largely after school. Two Dayton schools already have these grants in place. Ruskin Elementary, in partnership with East End Community Services, and Fairview Elementary, in partnership with Omega Community Development Corporation, are both wrapping up the second year of their five-year grants. Last week, Dayton’s school board approved partnership agreements for five other schools to apply, with award approval or rejection expected around July, according to LaShawn Graham, DPS director of federal programs. The schools that could be eligible for new grants are Kiser Elementary (partnering with Children’s Medical Center), Westwood Elementary (partnering with the Wesley Community Center), Cleveland Elementary (with Dayton’s YMCA), Edison Elementary (with Learn to Earn Dayton) and Wright Brothers Middle School (with East End). “The majority of them are for our Neighborhood School Centers,” Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli said. “That will only enhance the afterschool programming that’s offered for those students.” Dayton currently has six Neighborhood School Centers — schools where a partner agency helps the district pay for a site coordinator who organizes extra academic, social and mentoring programs. All six — Ruskin, Fairview, Kiser, Westwood, Cleveland and Edison — either have a 21st Century grant or are applying for one. Graham said those grants have three required components and must be structured to be sustainable. “You have to have at least a literacy component, a math component and positive youth development,” she said. “But you also have to have parent and family engagement. That’s where you can leverage your resources by utilizing the Neighborhood School Centers and Title 1 funds.” The grants are federally funded, but applications are reviewed and scored by the Ohio Department of Education. The state awarded 79 new five-year grants last year and 107 the year before. Two Trotwood schools and one local charter school (Dayton Leadership Academy) also have existing grants. Summer programs Later this month, Dayton’s school board is expected to approve four $40,000 contracts with four agencies to run “community-based summer enrichment programs” at Dayton schools with Neighborhood School Centers. Lolli said the East End/ Ruskin program is expected to serve 200 children, while Omega’s Freedom School at Fairview served 50-75 in the past. The other contracts are with the United Way at Edison (60 students) and the West Dayton Caravan of Churches at Westwood, according to Lolli. Lolli said each program will have both pure academic and enrichment activities, saying it makes sense to extend the work that those centers are doing into the summer. She said each program recruits on its own, and DPS does some robocalls and sends fliers home to make families aware of the opportunities. “I just want to express a word of appreciation to Dr. Lolli and her staff for the attention they’re giving to the community schools program, as a way of extending our reach to some of our hard-to-serve students,” school board member Robert Walker said. “I’m very encouraged.” Read the Dayton Daily News article here: http://epaper.daytondailynews.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=dbcf6dab-fb51-408e-9c40-82ebe76aca5c&utm_source=app.pagesuite&utm_medium=app-interaction&utm_campaign=pagesuite-epaper-ipad_share-article&appid=2942

Dayton Business Journal Elizabeth Kyle, Data Reporter A local organization received new funding to promote student-centered learning initiatives. Learn to Earn Dayton received a $1 million grant through the Together for Students initiative to establish a student-centered blueprint for learning. This grant will support a more integrated system that will meet the unique needs of every child, along with transforming the local community to support student-centered learning. Read the Dayton Business Journal article here: https://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2019/03/19/local-organization-receives-1m-to-expand-student.amp.html

WTDN.com by: Dana Smith DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – Learn to Earn Dayton has received a $1 million grant that will go directly towards helping local students. Dayton is one of four communities receiving  a combined $3.75 million in funding from a national group called Together for Students. “Not only do we educate during the school day but we are also concerned about what happens with our families,” Dayton Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Lolli said. “These after-school opportunities and experiences with our families will be supported through this grant.” Dayton Public Schools and Huber Heights City Schools are two local districts that will benefit from the grant. Both schools say it means more money for after-school and summer programs. Read the full WTDN article here: https://www.wdtn.com/news/local-news/dayton-organization-receives-1m-grant-to-help-area-students/

Articles published throughout 2016 to 2019 State “takeover” of schools could be replaced by consultants, new state panel, May 28, 2019 One diploma for all, May 26, 2019 Kids learn from teachers they like, April 28, 2019 Talking grows babies brains, April 28, 2019 Celebrate graduates’ education, choices, April 28, 2019 Grants sought for after-school programs, April21, 2019 Dayton organization receives $1M grant to help area students, March 19, 2019 Local organization receives $1M to expand student-centered learning, March 19, 2019 Zuckerberg-backed group steers $1M grant to Dayton, Huber schools, March 19, 2019 Educators focus on reducing opportunity gaps during summit at Sinclair, March 8, 2019 Preschool Promise expanding to 3 more communities, March 8, 2019 Ex-Microsoft CEO urges Dayton area to continue collaboration on education, February 5, 2019 New rules may shut some child care providers, December 16, 2018 Learn to Earn program 'lifting the veil' for educators on workforce needs, December 5, 2018 Sending every 4-year-old to school a key to Toledo's growth, November 17, 2018 Dayton leaders share strategy for universal preschool, November 16, 2018 Preschool Promise builds on success, strives for growth, October 30, 2018 Dayton superintendent: ‘We are not an ‘F’ school district’, September 19, 2018 Dayton Public Schools to benefit from $500,000 award, August 23, 2018 DPS, Northmont schools get $500K to tackle achievement gap, August 23, 2018 Learn to Earn recognized by StriveTogether, August 23, 2018 6 factors that contribute to the black achievement gap at Dayton schools, August 7, 2018 Preschool Promise expanding in and around Dayton, June 29, 2018 Signing Day events put focus on career paths, June 4, 2018 Together for Students Initiative recognizes community-wide education partnerships, May 30, 2018 Dayton groups earn two national honors, May 26, 2018 Dayton and Montgomery County recognized for raised student achievement, May 26, 2018 Principal exhorts students: It’s time to build life plans, May 3, 2018 Dayton named one of 17 national 'Talent Hubs," lands $350K grant, September 25, 2017 Dayton summit aims to improve education for black male students, September 20, 2017 Whaley: Dayton preschool effort a success; K-12 work is toughest, September 7, 2017 Area wins $3.4M for after-school programs for needy kids, August, 20, 2017 Investing in the next generation: A bottom-up approach to creating better outcomes for children and youth, Brookings Centennial Scholar Initiative/Bruce Katz and Ross Tilchin, August 15, 2017 Dayton Preschool Promise focuses on coaching, discipline, training, July 28, 2017 Preschool advocates say state funding cuts tolerable, July 8, 2017 As school kids struggle, what can churches do to help?, July 6, 2016 Preschool Promise officials turn to personal approach for sign-ups, June 24, 2017 Dayton honored as All-America City for reading success, June 24, 2017 Dayton, county win national education award, June 19, 2017 Mayor, teachers tout progress of Preschool Promise, June 9, 2017 Dayton preschool sign-ups lag despite funding, May 18, 2017 Signing Day: Schools urge students to map futures, May 4, 2017 $34M for preschool funding approved in Dayton, April 19, 2017 Families can now sign up for local Preschool Promise program, April 1, 2017 Local school leaders look for ways to close racial achievement gap, March 3, 2017 Dayton preschool board approves $5.5 million budget, March 3, 2017 Preschool board plans marketing blitz in March, February 17, 21017 Tuition help offered to preschools families in Dayton, Kettering, February 5, 2017 Study: Black students not closing gap in local in local school districts, January 27, 2017 Preschool board reaching out to schools, providers, January 15, 2017 Dayton preschool board hears aggressive timeline, January 4, 2017 City names leaders of preschool board, December 9, 2016 2 Ohio cities vote to expand preschool access, Huffington Post, November 9, 2016 Lots of work ahead on Dayton preschool effort, Dayton Daily News, November 9, 2016 City of Dayton's Issue 9 passes, WDTN-TV, November 8, 2016 Ohio's preschool battleground, Huffington Post, October 25, 2016 Lack of 'soft skills' problematic for job-seekers, schools, Dayton Daily News, August 5, 2016 Huge book donation benefits Dayton's kids, Dayton Daily News, May 19, 2016 Schools push students to plan for future, Dayton Daily News, April 29, 2016 Montgomery County considering major preschool expansion, Dayton Daily News, November 17, 2015 How much is missing too much school?, Dayton Daily News, September 12, 2015 Preschool Promise officials turn to personal approach for sign-ups, June 24, 2017 Dayton honored as All-America City for reading success, June 24, 2017 Dayton, county win national education award, June 19, 2017 Mayor, teachers tout progress of Preschool Promise, June 9, 2017 Dayton preschool sign-ups lag despite funding, May 18, 2017 Signing Day: Schools urge students to map futures, May 4, 2017 $34M for preschool funding approved in Dayton, April 19, 2017 Families can now sign up for local Preschool Promise program, April 1, 2017 Local school leaders look for ways to close racial achievement gap, March 3, 2017 Dayton preschool board approves $5.5 million budget, March 3, 2017 Preschool board plans marketing blitz in March, February 17, 21017 Tuition help offered to preschools families in Dayton, Kettering, February 5, 2017 Study: Black students not closing gap in local in local school districts, January 27, 2017 Preschool board reaching out to schools, providers, January 15, 2017 Dayton preschool board hears aggressive timeline, January 4, 2017 City names leaders of preschool board, December 9, 2016 2 Ohio cities vote to expand preschool access, Huffington Post, November 9, 2016