Partnerships are the foundation of Community Learning Centers (CLCs) — a major component of strengthening the relationship between communities and their schools.
As a result of the community engagement process, the Local School Decision Making Committee (LSDMC), or its sub-committee, identifies services that will enhance students' success. Partnerships support a variety of interests and generally fall into nine major categories:
Networks have been developed in some of these categories, bringing partners together to create a collaborative focused on one area of programming. Resources are pooled and the capacity of services offered to students is maximized. For example, MindPeace coordinates more than a dozen public and private mental health agencies to provide services to students and their families.
A second example is CincyAfterSchool which is a youth development network that provides after-school academic and enrichment programs for students. Caring adults in organizations such as the YMCA, the Urban League, Families Forward and the Boys and Girls Club are committed to supporting and enhancing the lives of Cincinnati Public Schools' children and families.
Services provided by community learning center partners are structured to best meet the needs of the students and community. The following are some ways that services provided by a partnership are typically accessed:
Co-Located Partner
Preschoolers get an early start to learning at Riverview East Academy.With co-located partnerships, a the partner comes in and uses space in the school. For example, when Riverview East Academy was building its community learning center, the needs assessment showed that there was a need for daycare. The school now houses a year-round, co-located partner — Cincinnati Early Learning Centers — offering early childhood education for children ages 18 months to five years.
Links
Linked partnerships are not located within the school facility, but are a fully integrated part of the community learning center. For example, Ethel M. Taylor Academy partners with the Cincinnati Recreation Center, located right across the street, to provide after-school activities for its students.
Community learning center partnerships are flexible. They are based on a shared interest to match resources and needs. Partnerships can take many forms, but they all work toward the goal of improved academic achievement and the development of schools as centers for community life.
