Partnerships Explore Path to Academic Success

A May 11 conference at Kingsgate Conference Center brought state, local and national education leaders together with UC faculty, educators for the Cincinnati Public Schools and leaders of the area's community-based agencies, as they got to work on one common goal: to ensure that every child will achieve academic success.

The conference, Partnerships for the Future, was presented by the Office of the Senior Vice President and Provost for Baccalaureate and Graduate Education, the University of Cincinnati Institute for Community Partnerships (UCICP), Cincinnati Public Schools and the Ohio Board of Regents. Educators explored seven key areas where partnerships were in demand.

"Proposals for partnerships can receive up to $15,000 in funding, with the projects bringing benefits to both the university and the Cincinnati Public Schools," says Lawrence J. Johnson, dean of the College of Education. "Funding for the projects is provided by UCICP, the Ohio Board of Regents and Procter & Gamble."

"This is an occasion in which UC can renew an important covenant with the public schools," said Anthony Perzigian, senior vice president and provost for baccalaureate and graduate education. "We are confident that UC is turning new corners, trying to become a more engaged university, and one key piece will be this PK-16 initiative. We have a unique partnership in place, and I think we could become an exemplar for other major metropolitan areas in the state and the nation.

"Ohio has a disturbingly low proportion of college graduates. This proportion must be improved if Ohio is to experience economic and social development. Thus, the stakes for this PK-12 initiative are very high," Perzigian said.

Roger Nehls, deputy superintendent of the Ohio Department of Education, said that the race, gender and socioeconomic gap between the highest and lowest performing students needs to be closed. "First, we need to define the gap and identify methods and investments to close the gap and we need to share the methods for success."

The mission to strengthen and build university and PK-12 partnerships is gaining prominence nationally. Esther Rodriquez, associate executive director of the State Higher Education Executive Officers (SHEEO), explained that her organization identified 35 states that are currently in the process of developing a system for the partnerships, but she said site visits found partnerships that were "program rich but system poor." She says poor coordination, duplicated programs, and a lack of integration of statewide reforms will continue to result in students needing remedial work in college. She called for programs to establish goals, incentives to sustain partnerships, and to develop assessments to help programs constantly evolve in response to student needs.

Afternoon sessions outlined the call for proposals in seven key areas:

In-service and degree options for teachers

Pathways to higher education

Design ideas

Libraries and information resources

Health and related resources

Technology

Community engagement

Proposals are due June 22, and awards should be announced in early July. Johnson says the approved proposals will be implemented in the fall.