Cincinnati Enquirer / September 4, 2015
Denise Driehaus 11:11 a.m. EDT September 4, 2015
In 2000, Cincinnati Public Schools did something revolutionary. For the last 15 years, students, families, and communities have been transformed by the success of Community Learning Centers (CLCs) in this city. CLCs transform a school into a hub of activity in the community, ensuring students and families are given the resources they need to be successful. They leverage public and private investments to provide health services, dental care, after school enrichment activities, early childhood educational opportunities and much more.
CLCs have increased the number of students who graduate from Cincinnati Public Schools and closed the achievement gap between white and African-American students. They have been instrumental in making Cincinnati the first urban school district in the state to achieve an “effective” rating, and kept Cincinnati as the top-rated urban district in the state year after year.
That is why I introduced House Bill 70, legislation that would have expanded the Community Learning Center model throughout the state of Ohio. I worked on this bill for four years. I had a co-sponsor from across the aisle. We brought in interested parties to provide feedback. We worked with our colleagues to ensure they understood and supported this bill. We developed a bill that passed out of the House with broad, bipartisan support.