Creating schools that engage their communities to support academic development will provide the additional benefit of creating schools that serve as centers of those communities. With each school assessing the needs of its students and developing the necessary partnerships, Cincinnati Public Schools will move toward its goal of turning more of its schools into community learning centers. Many Cincinnati schools already fit the description, such as 18 schools where seven lead social-service agencies have set up office space to provide services to students and families.

Although the district’s new Facilities Master Plan — which will rebuild or renovate schools for all CPS students — offers an unprecedented opportunity to strengthen community partnerships, the needs of individual schools and neighborhoods mean not all schools will use the same approach.

There is no 'cookie cutter' design for community learning centers. Through a public-engagement process, each neighborhood or groups of neighborhoods will develop a shared vision for continuous learning and community activity.

CPS Board Member Rick Williams stressed that, regardless of the nature of individual school partnerships, "it is our intent always to be guided by the impact on student achievement."

Ideas for what services the schools and the community want in a school building will shape what additional partners are approached. The launch of the Facilities Master Plan will create opportunities for schools to expand existing partnerships and create new ones.

"Ideas must come from the school community," said Darlene Kamine, a consultant with the district on community learning centers. "These various kinds of partnerships can happen even when you are not building a new building."

1. In order to serve more fully the needs of our students and to support improvement of their academic and intellectual development, all Cincinnati Public Schools will engage their communities in improving student achievement. As centers in the community, the schools and their partners should foster strong collaboration, set high expectations, embrace diversity and share accountability for results.

2. Each school in the district will assess the needs of its student population using the OnePlan process. As a result of that process, the school will develop the partnerships needed to enhance opportunities for student success and community investment.

3. Where the school and its community deem it appropriate, those partnerships may result in organizations and agencies locating at the school site to deliver services. When that occurs, the school will be defined as a community learning center.