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As a key driver of the collective impact work for the region, Barbra Stonerock from TDF joined the Learn to Earn Dayton team at the StriveTogether Convening in 2024. In the recent issue of Good News , The Dayton Foundation (TDF) president Mike Parks discussed the important work of their collaborations and leadership initiatives. Barbra Stonerock, vice-president of Community Engagement, highlighted some of ways TDF is approaching some of the region's most pressing challenges through partnerships and capacity-building. Learn to Earn Dayton is pleased to be a long-time partner with TDF, helping to drive educational outcomes, with a focus on community-led decision making. Read the article now , and learn more about supporting the important work of TDF .

Learn to Earn Dayton, in collaboration with an advisory council of expert community partners, announced the launch of the inaugural Civic Leadership Program, a transformative training academy designed to empower residents with the knowledge and leadership skills necessary to advocate for students and families. Modeled after Cincinnati’s successful School Board School, the Civic Leadership Program is the 4th location in the nation to launch this initiative that aims to cultivate a robust cohort of engaged leaders, better informed and prepared to run for local elected office or serve on advisory committees. This intensive program will provide participants with comprehensive training in civic engagement, coalition-building, and the strategies required to create systemic impact within schools and local government. "We believe that informed and engaged citizens are the cornerstone of a thriving community," said Stacy Schweikhart, CEO of Learn to Earn Dayton. "The Civic Leadership Program will provide residents with the tools and insights they need to become effective advocates and leaders, ultimately strengthening our community through civic engagement." Participants in the program will gain in-depth knowledge of: Leadership roles within schools, nonprofits, and governing bodies. Key issues and policies impacting Dayton students and families. Strategies for effective civic engagement and coalition-building. The process of running for local office. The curriculum requires commitment for cohort members to participate in 20+ sessions over the course of eight months. The program will feature expert speakers, interactive workshops, engaging field trips, and hands-on learning experiences, fostering a collaborative environment for participants to develop their leadership and gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with elected leadership. "This initiative is about building a pipeline of informed and prepared leaders who are passionate about serving our community," stated Nikol Miller, Executive Director of the Miami Valley Urban League and Civic Leadership Program Advisory Committee Member. "By investing in our residents, we are investing in the future of Greater Dayton." The Civic Leadership Program will commence in August 2025 and conclude in April 2026. Interested individuals are encouraged to attend an informational session on May 1, at Dayton Metro Library - Main Branch, 4-6 PM, or via Zoom on May 8, 11 AM - 12:30 PM. The application period opens May 1. More information available at learntoearndayton.org/clp .

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS If you have a question that isn’t addressed here, please email and ask us ! Would I make a good Civic Leadership Program participant? To help our students (and their families) be successful, we need engaged, passionate, and informed members of the local community serving in leadership roles. Too often, the people who are most affected by leadership decisions are not present at the table to share their experiences and ideas. The Civic Leadership Program is designed to empower those who wish to serve – either as an elected official or community advocate – who may otherwise not have full access to opportunity.  If you have the passion, interest, dedication, and commitment – Civic Leadership Program can help provide the information, skills, and support for you to become an educational advocate! While we are proud to recruit people of different backgrounds, skills and experiences, they all share: A belief in the ability of every child to succeed, A passion for and knowledge of the community, A willingness to learn, and A track record of positively impacting the community Are there any requirements to participation? With the Civic Leadership Program, we invest a lot in creating a worthwhile experience, and we expect that participants will invest in their own learning. While there is no cost, if accepted, you must agree to attend all of the  sessions and field trips , and to arrive on time and prepared. Additionally, participants sign a media waiver so that we can share all the good stuff we’re doing with the world. What is the time commitment? You need 5-10 hours a week to devote to the 8-month learning program. Some weeks, that is time on your own reading and preparing for group sessions. But often, that time is with the group. It’s important for you to have a flexible schedule in order to attend board meetings and school tours during the day; we also have tried to schedule evening and weekend sessions to accommodate a variety of schedules. After the learning program, the time commitment will vary depending on what you choose to pursue. The schedule is pretty intense. What if I have to miss some sessions? The curriculum is designed for participants to benefit from field trips, expert speakers, and engaging discussions with their classmates – all requiring in-person attendance. With that in mind, we ask applicants to review the full schedule in advance , so you can set aside the time and commit to the program. Because we know that things sometimes come up, we allow up to three absences over the course of the 8-month program. If you miss more than that, you won’t graduate with your original cohort, and we will invite you to reapply to join a program cohort in a future year. Are there any other expectations of participants? During our learning program, we provide a robust curriculum that includes the opportunity to engage with content area experts, current and former elected officials, access to relevant research and materials, and field trip experiences. However, we also expect you to be actively involved in your learning by coming prepared, asking good questions, and engaging in meaningful conversations. Additionally, every session incorporates points of reflection, where participants must consider and articulate their values, how those values and their skills & experiences intersect with the work that needs to be done in our school system or local governments, and make connections between the decisions they will make as elected officials or advocates and the impact of those decisions on our students and community. This is difficult and sometimes uncomfortable work, but we expect participants to engage in it in order to better serve our students. I don’t live in Dayton, but I’m interested in this program. Can I apply? During the first year, we are limiting attendance to residents of Dayton. While many of the lessons and themes will overlap, our current curriculum features speakers and examples from the Dayton Public Schools and the City of Dayton local government offices. Because of this targeted focus, we are limiting eligibility to City of Dayton residents only. Stay tuned! We may be able to expand geographic eligibility in the future. I don’t have a school aged student currently in DPS. Am I eligible? Yes! Anyone who is interested in supporting students succeed can be a great candidate for the Civic Leadership Program. While we require participants to be high school graduates (18+), there are no additional expectations around your personal experiences with local schools or local governments. I want to run for school board or elected office! Will you help me? There are lots of great organizations that can help you campaign, but the Civic Leadership Program is NOT involved in any political activity. Our training and materials may be helpful to your process, but you will need to seek out other organizations that specialize in campaign work for specific help. How much does it cost? Through the generous investment from Blue Meridian Partners, Learn to Earn Dayton is able to offer it at NO COST to accepted participants. I'm interested, but there are issues (childcare, transportation, conflicting work schedule, etc.) that make it difficult. Can you help? This vision behind the Civic Leadership Program is to help make the leadership table bigger, especially welcoming people who may have conflicting priorities that keep them away from exciting opportunities. If you think you are the right person for CLP, but you need a little help overcoming a challenge that might keep you away from participating – let us know! Who is leading the Civic Leadership Program? The Civic Leadership Program is led by a strong coalition of volunteer community leaders. Learn more about our Advisory Committee , who they are, why they are experts in the work, and why they opted to launch this program to strengthen the pipeline of potential leaders. Who is administering the Civic Leadership Program? The Civic Leadership Program was brought to Dayton by Learn to Earn Dayton, a regional nonprofit, serving Montgomery County, with a focus on student success across the “cradle-to-career” continuum. While classroom or school-wide activities and afterschool programs are incredibly beneficial for individual student success, we recognize that advancing outcomes for all students requires the understanding and support of those making the big decisions for students. Learn to Earn Dayton understands that forces outside the school building have a dramatic impact on student success; that is why we prioritize full-family engagement and place-based efforts. This program helps all residents from all Dayton neighborhoods to better understand the inner-workings of the systems that are affecting their students, in hopes to empower interested residents to support positive outcomes. Where did the Civic Leadership Program come from?  A program called School Board School launched in Cincinnati in 2018. The Learn to Earn Dayton team engaged them to bring their thoughtful curriculum here, adapted to meet the needs of our own local community. While they focus every class specifically on the inner workings of the school board, our Civic Leadership Program has expanded slightly to serve participants who may be interested in learning more about how other leadership positions (local government, quasi-governmental agencies, nonprofits, etc.) may be able to support positive student and family outcomes. How is this different from the other leadership programs around the region? The Civic Leadership Program is an adaptation of School Board School . While we have expanded slightly to provide insights regarding local government and nonprofits, the focus remains on how residents may better understand the roles, responsibilities, and opportunities for elected leaders and advocates to support student success. Other valuable programs across the region offer a wider range of topics or a different targeted focus area. If you’re not sure if CLP is right for you, contact us and we can help you decide.   Other excellent programs that sound similar, but each serve different purposes include: Dayton Civic Scholars, Neighborhood Leadership Institute, Black Leadership Development, Leadership Dayton, African American Leadership Development Program, New Leaders Council, and Generation Dayton Ignite, plus many leadership development and ongoing training opportunities available through local colleges and universities. How will applications be scored? Our partners at School Board School have shared their trusted rubric with all national partners who adopt this model, including our local Civic Leadership Program. A review panel, featuring Advisory Council volunteers with administrative support from Learn to Earn Dayton will closely review all applications.

Discover your potential to become a powerful advocate in Dayton! Are you looking to lift your voice in support of Dayton students and families? Learn how the Civic Leadership Program can equip you with the skills to advocate for students and families in our schools and local government. Register for one of our upcoming information sessions about the Civic Leadership Program, an 8-month journey focused on civic engagement, coalition-building, and creating lasting change. You'll learn about the comprehensive curriculum including classroom sessions, field trips, and workshops with local experts, and how you'll develop your own "vision for impact." Whether you dream of running for office or leading grassroots movements, this program provides the information, skills, and support you need to advocate for strong student outcomes. Talk to program leaders, connect with past participants, and get your questions answered– we look forward to seeing you there! In-Person Session: Thursday, May 1, 4-6 p.m., Dayton Metro Library - Main Campus, Bassani Theatre (3rd Floor). Lite Fare Available. Register Here . Virtual Session: Thursday, May 8, 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. via Zoom. Register Here . Virtual Q&A: Wednesday, June 11, 9-10 a.m. via Zoom. Register Here . (Drop in session for final application questions) Note: All info sessions are optional and not required for application. They are a great opportunity to get your questions about the Civic Leadership Program answered and get tips on putting together a great application. Questions? Contact clp (at) learntoearndayton.org or call us at 937.253.4178 (extension x3056).

Erica Fields, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives for Learn to Earn Dayton was named a Dayton Democracy Fellow by the Charles F. Kettering Foundation. Fields presents on a panel at the 2025 Imagining Community Symposium. The o ne-year fellowship is designed to "support innovative leaders, changemakers, and dreamers who are building movements for inclusive democracy in their communities and in our wider world." The recognition is a celebration of Fields's long tenure focusing on opportunities to strengthen civic engagement for the community. At Learn to Earn Dayton, Erica leads initiatives targeted in focused geographies where access to opportunity is limited and achievement gaps are the greatest, in partnership with districts, higher-education institutions, out-of-school providers, and student-centered community-based organizations. Over the course of the next year, Fields will join with the current class of Dayton Democracy Fellows for networking, collaborative learning, and strategic planning. Join the Learn to Earn Dayton team in extending our congratulations to Erica Fields!

Learn to Earn Dayton is honored by the renewal of our Systems Transformation designation from StriveTogether in 2025. We are proud partners in the effort, dedicated to the highest standards in supporting student success.

The upcoming annual Imagining Community Symposium brings together community members, nonprofit organizations, university faculty, staff and students to engage in robust dialogue, presentations, artistic representations and workshops around an annual topic that is identified by community members as in need of engagement. The 2025 Imagining Community Symposium's theme is creating brave spaces for civic engagement and will be held April 3-4, 2025, at the Arcade Innovation Hub in downtown Dayton. Each year, the Imagining Community Symposium draws over 500 attendees and features over 80 presenters. The symposium has featured nationally recognized speakers and early career faculty who are doing impactful work and who are rising to national prominence. Importantly, the Imagining Community Symposium has built a reputation for highlighting regional community and nonprofit experts by strategically forming panels and round tables to move forward shared goals in vital topics. These panels have resulted in significant outcomes, such as the Health Equity Activation Think Tank that is working to impact Black infant and maternal mortality, and housing coalitions around home environmental toxins and tenants’ rights. Erica Fields, Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives for Learn to Earn Dayton will be presenting at the Symposium, alongside Tracy Sibbing, Managing Director of Strategic Planning for Omega CDC, on "Catalyzing Change: Co-Creating a Stronger Northwest Dayton." Register to attend, free of charge here .

This school year, thanks to The BlackRock Foundation , our Pathways for Accelerated College and Career Experience pilot program was expanded to 8 school districts, including Columbus City Schools. Originally piloted at Kettering City Schools, PACCE helps address the state’s workforce needs by preparing more students to earn degrees and certifications for in-demand, high-wage, and high-growth careers. Earlier in March, ABC 6, joined us at Ft. Hayes Metropolitan Education Center in Columbus to share the story of PACCE. Our partners at I Know I Can have adopted the Learn to Earn Dayton PACCE framework to benefit Columbus City Schools district. At a time when Ohio’s economy is growing – with industries such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and computer science offering high-paying jobs – postsecondary enrollment and graduation rates have decreased, creating a demand for credentialed workers. According to the Ohio Bureau of Labor Market Information, 75% of job growth in Ohio will be in occupations requiring at least a postsecondary non-degree credential, and 58% of growth will be in occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher. To address this growing gap, Learn to Earn Dayton’s PACCE program reaches students who haven’t opted for traditional trade school or clear postsecondary paths. With original grant funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and The BlackRock Foundation’s grant, an expanded team of career navigators are helping guide more students to participate in Ohio’s statewide dual enrollment program, College Credit Plus, and assist with the transition from high school to postsecondary training or education, with a particular focus on the high-growth industries in the state.

Learn to Earn Dayton was honored to present the new Statewide Data Dashboard at Preschool Promise's Readiness Summit last week, as part of a jam-packed morning of thought-provoking keynote speakers and educational breakout sessions for over 600 attendees. Director of Data and Impact, Emma Smales, shared a few highlights of the dashboard and some navigation tips, as well as some sneak peeks for additional reports coming soon. Be Ready by 5 , a collaboration of organizations in Montgomery County, Ohio committed to working together to help prepare families with children ages 0-5 for success in Kindergarten and beyond, was officially announced during the Summit and Learn to Earn Dayton is a proud partner of this new initiative.

With over 30 total participants in-person and via Zoom, the Summer + Afterschool Collaborative had a productive and energetic quarterly meeting in February. The meeting included an in depth discussion about Ohio's new 21st Century standards, followed by an update from the Ohio Afterschool Network and an introduction to the new Statewide Data Dashboard from Learn to Earn Dayton. We were thrilled to welcome our educational partners at the National Afro-American Museum and Cultural Center, who gave an introduction of their new featured series entitled Museum In A Box . Our Summer + Afterschool Collaborative is a network of partners focused on increasing access to high quality out-of-school time programming for Montgomery County students. Interested in having your organization be a part of the collaborative? Contact Wesley Biles II at Wesley.biles2@learntoearndayton.org

Since the launch of the Statewide Data Dashboard, Learn to Earn Dayton has been in the headlines, with media coverage highlighting the dashboard's potential to drive educational improvement. The Dayton Daily News delved into the local implications of the data, reporting on how math scores in the region continue to lag behind pre-pandemic levels and state averages. This coverage underscores the urgent need for the insights provided by the dashboard, emphasizing its role in identifying areas for focused intervention. Spectrum News 1 also picked up the story, focusing on the broader issue of student proficiency rates across the state. Their coverage reinforces the dashboard's value as a tool for understanding and addressing the challenges faced by students statewide. The Dayton Business Journal highlighted the dashboard's functionality, emphasizing its ability to compare education metrics and provide valuable data for businesses and community leaders. This coverage showcased the dashboard's potential to foster collaboration and data-driven decision-making across sectors. We are excited to see how this tool will drive positive change in the years to come, as we continue to work to ensure that every student has the opportunity to succeed.

DAYTON, OH – Learn to Earn Dayton is pleased to announce the launch of the Statewide Data Dashboard. The dashboard offers a user-friendly interface, allowing anyone to explore data related to educational outcomes and postsecondary success for students across Ohio. Dashboard users can view data specific to each of Ohio’s 611 School Districts, including comparison data to comparable districts across the state; each of Ohio’s 88 counties; each of Ohio’s Senate and House Legislative Districts; and each of the 8 JobsOhio Economic Development Areas. The dashboard relies on K-12 data from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and postsecondary data from the National Student Clearinghouse. “We believe that access to data is essential in order to influence improvement and alignment in the systems that serve youth and families,” said Stacy Schweikhart, CEO of Learn to Earn Dayton. “This new dashboard empowers families, educators, policymakers, community organizations and stakeholders to make informed decisions and collaborate effectively on a shared vision to improve outcomes for all students.” Until the release of this dashboard, only 3 other counties in Ohio regularly tracked progress toward the educational attainment milestones the way that Learn to Earn Dayton has done for Montgomery County. The Statewide Data Dashboard supports a statewide coalition of organizations doing cross-sector, collective impact work to advance student outcomes across Ohio. This statewide work is made possible by an investment from StriveTogether. For more than a decade, Learn to Earn Dayton has included educational outcomes data for Montgomery County as part of its annual report. With the release of the 2023-2024 Annual Report, now available at learntoearndayton.org/annual-reports , Learn to Earn Dayton also shares innovative partnerships and initiatives that encourage academic achievement, two-generational family support and economic mobility. The dashboard is available now at learntoearndayton.org/data . Learn to Earn Dayton encourages families, educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in the region’s educational and workforce landscape to explore the data and utilize this tool to inform their work. About Learn to Earn Dayton Learn to Earn Dayton is the regional cradle-to-career intermediary organization, leveraging data, policy, and partnerships to improve student outcomes along the educational continuum with the goal of increasing the number of students who earn a college degree or marketable credential. Learn to Earn Dayton serves the community as a convener, collaborator, innovator, and incubator, centering youth voices and driving for solutions that can improve our local communities. More information at learntoearndayton.org .