The Marvin Lewis Community Fund (MLCF) partners with Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS), 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 all 19,256 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 are recognized at the Academic Achievement Ceremony at Paul Brown Stadium in June. 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.
After only 2 years, the program has seen a 7.5% 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
(17%) |
12,330
(+1.5%) |
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.
Visit IamCPS.org for more details and videos regarding more success stories in Cincinnati Public Schools.
Academic Achievement Ceremony
On June 13, 2009, 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 have qualified to attend the Ceremony representing a 35% increase in the number of students achieving this honor.
Corporate partners for the program include Baker Concrete, Best Buy, Cincinnati Bengals,The Business Courier, Local 12, Cintas, UDF, Prestige Audio & Visual, Gameday Communications, Crayons to Computers, Mercy Health Partners, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Teammates for Kids, The Merten Company, Trophy Awards, Gold Star Chili, Touchstone and PNC.
"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 receive "Learning is Cool" packs that include: letters to every parent from Coach Lewis and the players, a poster, a pencil, and a notebook. Quarterly rewards are issued for students who make the "A" Honor Roll. Rewards have included: buttons, bracelets, gift certificates, temporary tattoos, water bottles, dog tags, lanyards, inflatable footballs, and mini-footballs. Teachers and principals also earn end-of-the-year rewards based on performance, with the winning schools receiving new technology.
For more information on Cincinnati Public Schools, visit www.cps-k12.org
Expanding the Learning is Cool Program
In the 2010-2011 school year the Learning is Cool program will be expanding into 2 new areas of need. The program will include Cincinnati Public School students in grades 1-12 instead of previous years in which the only targeted students were in the 1st-8th grades.
We will also bring the program into Kentucky. All schools and students in grades 1-12 in Covington Independant Schools will be participating in the program.
Facts at a Glance
ü All 19,256
Cincinnati
Public School students in 48 schools are participating in the 2009-2010 school year
ü Since inception in the 1st quarter of 2008, the number of students on the "A” Honor Roll has increased for 8 straight quarters
ü In the 1st quarter of 2008 only 8.7% of students made the "A” Honor Roll; in the most recent quarter, 4th quarter of 2010, 16.9% of students achieved the "A” Honor Roll representing an overall increase of 8.2% in the amount of students achieving this honor
ü The MLCF has distributed over 21,000 rewards to "A” Honor Roll students
ü 4 Cincinnati Bengals players 1 Cincinnati Reds player and local executives made unique school appearances through our "Whatever your Occupation, It’s Important to Get an Education” campaign
ü Through the 3rd quarter of the 2009-2010 school year student "A” Honor Roll achievements are up 50% from the previous school year
ü In June of 2009, over 2,500 students were invited to the Academic Achievement Ceremony to be recognized for accomplishing the "A” Honor Roll in any two quarters of the school year
ü 3,393 students qualified for the 2010 Academic Achievement Ceremony representing more than a 35% increase.
ü The Learning is Cool program will expand during the 2010-2011 school year into Cincinnati Public High Schools and every Covington Independent School increasing the total number of students in the program to over 34,000