The Marvin Lewis Community Fund (MLCF) partners with Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), Covington Independent Public Schools (CIPS), North College Hill (NCH), the Cincinnati Bengals, and other local businesses to present "Learning Is Cool," an educational incentive program that rewards students for strong academic performance.
This program is designed to encourage approximately 24,000 1st-8th grade students in Cincinnati Public Schools and North College Hill City Schools. As well as 1st-12th grade students in Covington Independent Public Schools to make the "A" Honor Roll each quarter. Students who make the "A" Honor Roll two quarters of the year are recognized at an end of the year event in June. At the these events, Coach Marvin Lewis and participating Bengals players will reward them for their efforts. This year's LIC school visits have featured Bengals players such as Andrew Whitworth, Thomas Howard, Nate Livings, Domata Peko, Chris Crocker, Robert Geathers, Kevin Huber, Chase Coffman, and Bobbie Williams.
After only 3 years, the program witnessed a 8.6% increase in the number of "A” Honor Roll achievements.
|
School Year |
1st Quarter |
2nd Quarter |
3rd Quarter |
4th Quarter |
Total |
|
2008-2009
19,578 students |
1,717
(8.7%) |
2,085
(10.6%) |
2,323
(11.8%) |
2,849
(14.4%) |
8,974
(+ 6%) |
|
2009-2010
19,256 students
|
2,980
(15.5%) |
3,016
(15.7%) |
3,068
(15.9%) |
3,266
(16.9%) |
12,330
(+1.5%) |
|
2010-2011
19,056 students |
3,148
(16.5%) |
3,179
(16.7%) |
3,069
(16.1%) |
3,863
(18%) |
13,259
(+1.1%) |
*chart above reflects students in grades 1-8 in CPS only
In the 2007-2008 school year (pre-program) only 7.7% of the students achieved the honor roll in the first quarter, 9.6% earned it in the second quarter, 10.3% in the third quarter and 10.1% achieved "A” Honor Roll in the fourth quarter.
The 2009-2010 school year has continued to show progress as over 3,000 students made the "A" Honor Roll in the 2nd quarter for the first time in Learning is Cool history.
The 2010-2011 school year showed even more improvements with over 4,000 students making the "A" Honor Roll at least twice.
Visit IamCPS.org for more details and videos regarding more success stories in Cincinnati Public Schools.
Academic Achievement Ceremony
In the 2008-2009 school year 2,511 (12.7%) students qualified to attend the Academic Achievement Ceremony after making the "A" Honor Roll at least twice during the 2008-09 academic year.
In the 2009-2010 school year 3,393 (17%) students qualified to attend the Ceremony representing a 35% increase in the number of students achieving this honor.
In the 2010-2011 school year 3,863 (20%) students qualified to attend the Academic Achievement Ceremony after making the "A" Honor Roll at least twice during the school year.
Corporate partners for the program include our presenting sponsor Prestige Audio & Visual along with Baker Concrete, Cincinnati Bengals, Cincinnati Zoo, Cintas, The Business Courier, The Castellini Group, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Fifth Third Bank, Local 12, Jacob G. Schmidlapp Fund, Macy's, Mercy Health Partners, Ohio Casualty, Outback Steakhouse, Chipotle, Toyota, Pepsi, Frito Lay, Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation and Touchstone.
"This partnership with Cincinnati Public Schools and Covington Independent Public Schools is about helping students achieve their dreams, and that starts in the classroom," said Coach Lewis. "Our hope is that we can inspire them to work harder and earn the "A" Honor Roll."
"We are delighted that the Marvin Lewis Community Fund chose our district for this tremendous effort," adds Mary Ronan, Superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools. "This program will help strengthen efforts we're making throughout this district to improve student achievement by providing incentives for students to achieve their best everyday."
At the beginning of the school year, students receive "Learning Is Cool" packs that include: letters to every parent from Coach Lewis and the players, school kits, and watches. Quarterly rewards are issued for students who make the "A" Honor Roll. Rewards have included: buttons, bracelets, temporary tattoos, water bottles, dog tags, lanyards, inflatable footballs, mini-footballs, posters, folders, and notebooks. Teachers and principals also earn end-of-the-year rewards based on performance, with the winning schools receiving new technology.
For more information on Covington Independent Public Schools, visit www.covschools.us.
Facts at a Glance
Overall Program:
ü
Approximately
24,000
CPS and CIPS students in 58 schools are participating in the
Learning Is Cool
program in the 2011-2012
school year. In the first 2 years of the program around 19,250 CPS students in grades 1-8 participated.
ü
In
September of 2011, North College Hill Schools (grades 1 – 8) joined the program
ü
In
three years the MLCF has distributed over
51,993 rewards to "A" Honor Roll students in
CPS and CIPS schools (grades 1 – 12)
ü
During
the fall of 2011,
9 Bengals players and local executives will
visit schools in CPS, NCH and CIPS through our "Whatever Your Occupation, It’s
Important To Get An Education” campaign
CPS grades 1 - 8:
ü
In
the 1st quarter of 2008 only 8.7% of students made the "A” Honor
Roll; in the 4th quarter 2011,
19.31% of students achieved the "A” Honor Roll, representing an overall
increase of over
110% in the number of students accomplishing this feat
ü
Wm.
Howard Taft Elementary
increased the number of "A” Honor Roll achievements by
192% in the 2010-2011 school year
ü
Sayler
Park Elementary
increased
the number of "A” Honor Roll achievements by 170% in the 2010-2011
school year
ü
In
the 2009-2010 school year student "A” Honor Roll achievements were up
50% year
over year
ü
In
June of 2009, over
2,500
students qualified for the Academic
Achievement Ceremony (AAC) by making the "A” Honor Roll twice. In 2010 and 2011
more than
3,300
and
3,500
students respectively, qualified for the AAC—
an increase
of 35% and 40% respectively
from 2009