Learning is Cool
Click here to view photos from the Academic Achievement Party at Paul Brown Stadium!
This school year, the Marvin Lewis Community Fund (MLCF) partnered with Cincinnati Public Schools to launch "Learning is Cool," an educational incentive program that rewards students for strong academic performance.
After one full academic year (four quarters), the program has seen an increase in the number of students achieving the “A” Honor Roll. In the first quarter of the 2008-2009 academic year, 1,717 students (8.7%) achieved the “A” Honor Roll, 2,085 students (10.6%) in the second quarter, 2,323 students (11.8%) in the 3rd Quarter, and 2,849 students (14.4%) earned “A” Honor Roll in the fourth quarter. Last year, 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.
2,511 (12.7%) students qualified to attend the Academic Achievement Party after making the "A" Honor Roll at least twice during the 2008-09 academic year.
This program is designed to encourage all 19,758 1st-8th grade students in Cincinnati Public Schools to make the "A" honor roll each quarter. Students who make the "A" honor roll two quarters of the year will be invited to the Academic Achievement Party at Paul Brown Stadium on June 13, 2009. At the party, Coach Marvin Lewis and participating Bengals will award them a medal. Robert Geathers, Laveranues Coles, Johnathan Joseph and Domata Peko are among the participating players.
Corporate partners for the program include Baker Concrete, Berman Printing, Cincinnati Bengals, Interbrand, Macy's, Procter & Gamble, National City, Navis Pack & Ship, Staples, UDF, Crayons to Computers, and Mercy Health Partners.
"This partnership with Cincinnati 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, interim superintendent of 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 received "Learning is Cool" packs that included: letters to every parent from Coach Lewis and the players, a poster, a pencil, and a notebook. Quarterly incentives are issued for students that include buttons, bracelets, gift certificates, temporary tattoos and mini-footballs. Teachers and principals will earn end-of-the-year incentives based on performance with three winning schools awarded new technology.
The Cincinnati Public School system has two honor roll categories, "A" Honors and "A" Average. The goal of the "Learning is Cool" program is to double the amount of students making honor roll in the 2008-09 school year and the triple the amount in 2009-10.
For more information on Cincinnati Public Schools, visit www.cps-k12.org
By the Numbers...
19,758 - The number of students participating in Learning is Cool during 2008-09 school year
286 - The number of students in the Youth Development through Sports program in 2005 and 2006 who made the honor roll (Learning is Cool is modeled after the Youth Development through Sports program)
48 - Number of Cincinnati Public Schools participating in Learning is Cool
30 - Percentage of students who made "A" Average during the 2007-08 school year
8 - Percentage of students who made "A" Honor during the 2007-08 school year
5 - Members of the Cincinnati Bengals organization participating (Marvin Lewis, Robert Geathers, Laveranues Coles, Johnathan Joseph, and Domata Peko)
3x - The goal for the number of students achieving the honor roll during the 2009-10 school year with Learning is Cool
2x - The goal for the number of students achieving the honor roll during the 2008-09 school year with Learning is Cool
