East Tech Warriors score FIRST Robotics Competition Ohio State Championship

By Khalil Anderson

CLEVELAND, OH – The Tech Warriors from East Technical High School in Cleveland made history by becoming state champions at the FIRST Robotics Competition Ohio State Championship. Their success would not have been possible without the extraordinary teamwork and coordination of The Tech Warriors and their alliance partners, Team 4028 The Beak Squad from Cincinnati, Team 1787 Flying Circuits from Pepper Pike and Team 8243 Astro Circuits from Cleveland.

The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) is a competitive robotics competition that challenges high school students to design, build, and program robots to perform specific tasks. The Tech Warriors proved their skill, determination and professionalism throughout the year competing at competitions such as The Finger Lakes Regional in Rochester, New York, The Buckeye Regional in Cleveland, and The Miami Valley Regional in Cincinnati. After competing at three competitions, The Tech Warriors ranked among the top teams in the state.

After finishing all their qualification matches and ranking 25th, their journey to the state championship round began with an alliance selection process, where they secured a spot on the number one of the alliance to enter the playoffs and compete for the state championship.

During the playoffs, the top eight alliances faced off in a series of elimination rounds. The Tech Warriors and their alliance partners exhibited exceptional agility, and precision with their robots, allowing them to score high points and go unbeaten in the playoffs, ensuring their position in the finals.

The alliance went up against an extremely skilled alliance in the finals, but The Tech Warriors and their alliance partners weren’t about to back down. They went undefeated in the finals and won the title of state champions because of their excellent teamwork and execution.

After endless hours of competing and strategizing, The Tech Warriors and their alliance partners put into building chemistry, their work had finally paid off. The four teams worked flawlessly together, bringing home a championship banner and trophy.

Khalil is a senior at East Technical High School. He participated in the eight Saturdays Cleveland Media Academy sponsored by the Plain Dealer and cleveland.com

Revisiting ARPA: Time is Running Out!

by Tanisha Pruitt Policy Matters Ohio

The pandemic took a toll on Americans from all walks of life, especially school children and educators. Throughout the pandemic, parents, children and teachers navigated school closures, hybrid learning and constantly evolving safety protocols. Coming out of the pandemic, Ohio’s schools are still recovering from learning loss, struggling to recruit and retain educators, scrambling to employ the proper number of qualified support staff and dealing with issues getting students to and from school due to the lack of buses and a reduction in the number of qualified, bus drivers well-trained bus drivers to drive them. The good news is that the state still has available federal funds that can help, but only a year left to use the funds wisely so Ohio students and educators can get what they need to thrive in school.

The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan (ARP) signed by President Biden in March 2021 dedicated $122 billion to support primary and secondary education, so schools could address learning loss, retool for new safety requirements and improve technology. Starting in 2021, districts across Ohio received disbursements of the state’s $4.4 billion in ARP funds for K-12 schools. The state currently has 8% of these funds remaining, which schools must spend by September 30th, 2024.

The ARP funds were the third in a series third in a series of federal supports disbursed as Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER):

ESSER I ($489,205,200): Funded by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), which was enacted on March 20th, 2020. This funding was available March 13, 2020-September 30, 2022.

ESSER II ($1,991,251,095): Funded by the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act (CRRSA), which was enacted on December 27, 2020. This funding was available December 27, 2020-September 30, 2023.

ARP ESSER (ESSER III) ($4,475,243,513): Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which was enacted on March 11, 2021. The funding is available until September 30, 2024.

Most districts have utilized all their ESSER I-II funds:

District Examples:

Cleveland Heights-University heights school district:

ESSER III (ARP ESSER) Funds Usage	CATEGORY TOTAL
Activities to address learning loss, e.g. summer and after school programming	$1,437,133.37
Maintain operations and continuity of services	$1,260,120.63
Provide mental health services and supports	$787,651.21
Purchase educational technology	$763,903.78
Implement public health protocols	$46,587.42
	TOTAL TO DATE (6/17/2022): $4,295,396.41

CMSD: The impact of ESSER funds has greatly impacted the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, according to Chief Executive Officer Eric Gordon, who, along with two colleagues, shared how the district is investing ESSER funds at the district and school level to improve academic achievement.

Gordon said that during the Covid-19 pandemic, district-based and school-based educators made a pact when schools shut down for in-person learning that they were determined not to return to business as usual after the pandemic ended. As a result, they created a plan titled “Our Vision for Learning in a Post-Pandemic World” to help guide the district.

“We made a bet that if we invest in things such as out of school time and summer learning experiences that deepen and broaden the rich learning environment for young people in the context of rigorous academic content,” said Gordon, “we can move achievement, and we can use ESSER dollars to jump start this vision and then build a bridge to sustainability long term,” said Gordon.

Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) 507
Provides emergency relief grants to school districts related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions include, but are not limited to, providing for coordination of preparedness and response efforts, training and professional development of staff, planning and coordination during long-term closure, and purchasing technology for students.

Read more on Cleveland.com

Cleveland Preparatory Academy:

The Academy will use ARP ESSER funds to implement the following:
1. Universal and correct wearing of masks – as directed by the CDC – all applicable individuals will be provided with the necessary PPE (purchased through ARP ESSER) if they do not have their own.
2. Physical distancing – ARP ESSER funds will be used to maximize all instructional spaces on campus both indoors and outdoors through reasonable construction projects.
3. Handwashing and respiratory etiquette – ARP ESSER funds will be used to update any facilities needed to increase student and staff access to handwashing facilities.
4. Cleaning and maintaining healthy facilities, including improving ventilation – ARP ESSER funds will be used to update and maintain HVAC and ventilation systems to improve air quality and air flow in the school. Funds will also be used for increased cleaning around the school. The facilities will also
be updated with surfaces throughout the building and outside that enable effective cleaning of high touch areas.
2. How the LEA will use the funds it reserves under section 2001(e)(1) of the ARP Act to address the academic impact of lost instructional time through the implementation of evidence-based interventions, such as summer learning or summer enrichment, extended day, comprehensive afterschool programs, or
extended school year.
A portion of the required 20% will be allocated to addressing the academic impact of lost instructional time through summer learning and enrichment as well as comprehensive after school programs that include both tutoring and enrichment. During the course of the school day, students will also receive
small group instruction through a combination of intervention teachers from Title I and ESSER funds.
3. How the LEA will spend its remaining ARP ESSER funds consistent with section 2001(e)(2) of the ARP Act; and The remaining ARP ESSER funds dedicated to academic intervention under the 20% set aside will be focused on intervention materials and staff. The Academy has purchased an online platform that includes iReady (diagnostic and data-driven instruction), Mastery Connect (short cycle assessments) as well as several intervention programs including ILX, BrainPOP, Raz-Kids and supplemental programs like

Here is the ODE Dashboard where Districts can track their ARP ESSER allocations and spending.

Districts now have the remaining ARP ESSER (ESSER III) funds, which were distributed in July of 2021, to use before the deadline. Funding allocations are distributed to districts based on enrollment and number of students in low-income families to ensure that districts with high concentrations of economically disadvantaged students receive the funding that they need and deserve. This will benefit larger urban districts such as Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD), which received $295 million in ARP ESSER funds. CMSD has $77,521,935 remaining funds to spend before the deadline next year.

The United States Department of Education makes clear that schools must use ARP funds to:

Open safely and remain open.
Dedicate 20% of funds to helping students recover academically and emotionally from losing a year in the classroom.
Prevent layoffs and hire any additional personnel to help get students back on track.
Provide enrichment learning, summer school and early education programs to maintain equity and aid in instructional loss during the pandemic.
Address physical and mental health needs of students.
Ensure a safe and healthy school environment, with windows that open and good air circulation, through renovations and improvements to schools’ HVAC systems.

What should districts use the remaining ARP ESSER funds for?

The large influx of federal K-12 aid can help Ohio school districts expand opportunities for all students, no matter where they live or how much money their families have. School districts serving higher percentages of students with low incomes will on average have received higher allocations of the funds. All Ohio school districts have a responsibility to use ARP funds to address the most urgent setbacks during the pandemic and give all students the support they need to flourish.

Districts around the state have already begun making plans for what they intended to use the remaining funds for ahead of the deadline:

Columbus City Schools: Columbus City Schools plans to use $1 million to provide mental health support for students and staff, including hiring more licensed mental health professionals that can address needs in their schools.

Middletown City School District: Middletown City school district plans to use $6 million for continued recovery to mitigate learning loss and provide extended education opportunities, such as hiring counselors and offering after school programs, to improve student academic outcomes.

Akron Public Schools: Akron public city school district plans to use $3 million to hire more educators as an effort to reduce class sizes and an additional $300,000 for substitute teachers to help mitigate teacher shortages in the district.

Additional Uses of ARP ESSER:

In addition to using federal relief aid for learning loss recovery and mental health supports, the Biden administration also plans to set aside $9 billion in American Rescue Plan funding to address the teacher shortage nationwide. School districts in Ohio can add that funding to the $4.4 billion the state is already receiving in ARP dollars to address the current issues the state is navigating with recruiting and retaining qualified educators and support staff. Additionally, to address some of the transportation issues that districts have been facing in recent years, funds can be used to purchase more buses and hire more transportation staff.

Today, many of the same lawmakers who passed state budgets that erode resources from our public schools are seizing the opportunity to pit parents against teachers and school administrators – aiming to further undercut public education by subsidizing tuition for students to attend private schools. ARP dollars show how public funding can help get kids back on track in the classroom and provide the necessary support and services that they need. We can help keep schools safe and functional by monitoring ARP dollars coming into our districts and by encouraging administrators to use the funds to address staff shortages.

Most school districts post details of their ARP plans on their websites. Click here for highlights from Ohio’s Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief ARP Plans. Also, if you would like to track how much your district received in ARP ESSER funding, you can find that here.

Books, Buses, and the Unexpected — Tips For School

By Tonya Sams

August is here and we will soon hear the ringing of school bells. But preparing for the new year is more than just buying clothes and supplies – it is also about preparing for new situations and challenges students may face at school.

The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland provides legal help that ensures kids’ school success, and wants to offer a few helpful tips:

SPECIAL EDUCATION
If you are concerned that your child is not keeping up with peers, you can ask your school to test your child for special education needs. Make the request in writing and keep a dated copy for yourself. It doesn’t matter if the school year is well underway; you can request a
special education evaluation at any time.

If it is determined that your child qualifies for special education services, they will receive what is called an individualized education program or IEP. IEPs outline goals and accommodations that can help your child succeed.

If you and the school disagree regarding your child’s placement in special education, you can contact the Ohio Department of Education to file a complaint or request a mediation to resolve the issue.

TROUBLE IN SCHOOL
If your child is constantly getting into trouble in school, find out if they are having problems
with a teacher or other students. Talk to your child about the trauma that may be causing them to act out. You may find that the school can provide resources such as a mental health counselor for your child. You can also request that your child is tested for special education or a functional behavior assessment (FBA). Talk to school officials about these issues.

If your child has been disciplined by suspension, expulsion, or other measures, request
documentation from the school.

BULLYING
According to Ohio law, bullying is any repeated, intentional act (either physical, verbal, electronic, or written) that causes a student physical or mental harm and creates a hostile,
threatening environment. Schools are required to allow people to report bullying anonymously.

Schools also must protect students from bullying and discipline those students that are
bullying others. You have the right to report bullying to the school and to request an investigation. If an investigation is conducted, you have a right to see the results of that investigation. You can also obtain a lawyer or contact the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Civil Rights.

HOUSING INSECURITY
If you and your child are homeless, federal law states that your child can not be denied
their education. Your child has the right to continue to attend the same school before they
became homeless and to receive transportation. They also have the right to transfer to a school that may be closer, enroll in school even if they do not have the proper documentation such as a birth certificate, and the right to continue to receive special
education if needed.

If you have issues in any of these areas, Legal Aid may be able to help. Call 888-817-3777 or
visit lasclev.org/contact for more information. Legal Aid also offers free legal clinics in neighborhoods throughout Northeast Ohio. Check Legal Aid’s website for an event calendar and visit a clinic with your questions!

Tonya Sams is the Development and Communications Assistant at The Legal Aid Society of Cleveland.

Leadership Development Programs Seek 2023 Applicants

By Sandra Kluk

If you are passionate, committed, and dedicated to taking an active role in improving your community, you may be excited by, and ready for, one of two upcoming leadership development programs. NLDP and CDCLP are programs of the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Foundation. Both programs are currently seeking applicants for their 2023 cohorts—and both are at no cost to participants.

The Neighborhood Leadership Development Program (NLDP) has offered community engagement leadership training for residents of Cleveland and its inner-ring suburbs for 16 years, and are working on projects in the City of Cleveland that are determined to make a positive impact on their communities.

The Community Development Corporation Leadership Program (CDCLP) just graduated its second cohort. CDCLP is the Cleveland area’s only leadership program specifically designed for community development corporation executive-level leadership.

NLDP and CDCLP are designed to help emerging neighborhood leaders reach their potential by expanding their knowledge base and personal development through education, coaching, and ongoing interaction with their peers and other leaders. Participants, as well as graduates of both programs, have ongoing access to the services of a program coach who will give advice and support tailored to the needs of the participant.

The programs cover topics such as organizational and program planning, marketing and communications, program fundraising, board governance, conflict resolution and more. NLDP and CDCLP participants and graduates are a diverse group with many interests who are working on a wide variety of issues that positively impact Cleveland’s neighborhoods.

Both programs hold their in-person sessions at Trinity Commons, 2230 Euclid Avenue. NLDP sessions take place from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays, and CDCLP sessions take place from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays.

The application period is now open! The CDCLP deadline is Aug. 3. For additional information on CDCLP and to view the curriculum and online application, visit www.cdclp.org or call 216-776-6172.

The deadline for NLDP applications is Aug. 10. For additional information on NLDP and to view the curriculum and online application, visit www.nldpcleveland.com or call 216-776-6167.

Think you have what it takes? Apply to make a difference!

CWRU Is Replacing Yost Hall

By Veronica Maciag

Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) has recently announced the details of its new project on the Case Quad. In place of the building formerly known as Yost Hall, CWRU is constructing the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building (ISEB). Here’s everything you need to know about it.

What is Yost Hall?

Historically, Yost Hall functioned as a primary dormitory for the Case Institute for Technology—one of two universities that had later merged to form what is now Case Western Reserve University. Later, with the formation of CWRU, the building’s purpose shifted to house the university’s Department of Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics. Yost Hall has now run its course with this purpose as well.

What will the ISEB be Used for?

CWRU’s President Eric W. Kaler has expressed his aspirations for this building to align directly with Case’s mission for fostering research and community engagement. The ISEB is meant to combine these two focuses in prioritizing several issues that are urgent to the globe, such being climate change, health disparities, and artificial intelligence applications and developments. Here, the building will promote intersectionality between students of all fields to explore such issues. CWRU is crafting the ideal place for its newly introduced major—experimental humanities—to thrive.

When Will it be Finished?

Now, the ISEB’s completion will take place by the end of the year 2026, which is in time for the bicentennial celebration of CWRU’s founding. Ultimately, the ISEB is the largest project on the Case Quad yet. Costing around $300 million dollars, this 200,000-square-foot building represents a new and eagerly anticipated development by the entire CWRU body.

Source: The Daily

The Cleveland Observer Student Media Challenge

The Cleveland Observer is looking to form a student news desk. This college-level news desk team will report on topics students are facing and will initially focus on mental health. The content will focus on reporting stories in the community through a solutions lens. The team will convene in September, meet biweekly through November, and monthly from December through the final cohort meeting in May 2024.

Students are required to create rigorous enterprise-level content which will be due on the 15th of the month. A weekly news brief (content to be assigned) will also be required every week for the duration of the project.

Why the focus on mental health?

Young people have always been especially vulnerable to mental health issues, and the pandemic has only intensified the breadth and depth of their suffering. The nation has seen an uptick in both traditional mental health issues—anxiety, depression, trauma, suicide, assault, PTSD, and loneliness—as well as mental health issues that arise through other social determinants of health—racism, neglect, food insecurity, housing instability, economic instability, and community violence.

Participants will engage with other students and/or the broader community to gather and share information and resources.

What are we looking to do within these nine months?

Solutions Journalism Training
Class visits
Blogs and social media posts
Create video content
Increase community engagement by convening a group of students to discuss mental health concerns
Report how our communities in this area address mental health challenges.

Students must commit to the entire length of the project. They will be paid a $2,000.00 stipend. If you or someone you know is interested in signing up, or for further information, scan the QR code above!

New Humanities/STEM Collaborative at CWRU

By Lily Stuart

In the wake of a new era of artificial intelligence, collaborative efforts to integrate ethics into technological development become ever more pressing. Luckily, college campuses are already beginning to do so. On March 6, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) announced a $2 million commitment from the Jack, Joseph, and Morton Mandel Foundation to support a new initiative at CWRU that will integrate education in the humanities more deeply with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) programs. The university will use the money in two main areas: developing a new major titled “Experimental Humanities” and financially supporting research projects that combine the humanities with technological innovation. The development of programs like these supports a moral compass in an age where AI seems to possess every human ability besides consciousness.

Students at CWRU have been informally studying within this major for years, however. Over the past five years, the number of students double-majoring across the two areas (Humanities and STEM) increased by 20%. Now, students who would typically spend double the time to pursue both their ethical and scientific passions will have the ability to do both in a more timely and supportive environment. This grant funding and new major will allow greater opportunities for students who care simultaneously about technological advancement and sustainability within a world that never seems to slow its pace.

CWRU Researchers on 60 Minutes

By Lily Stuart

On March 26, Case Western Reserve University researchers Dustin Tyler and A. Bolu Ajiboye were featured on the CBS News program 60 Minutes. Both are biomedical engineering pioneers who work in neuroprosthetics, researching how to bring a renewed sense of touch to amputees and people with paralysis. Tyler and Ajiboye also both lead research at the University as well as at the Louis Stokes Cleveland Department of Veteran Affairs (VA). The segment includes other researchers from outside Northeast Ohio and can be watched here.

Tyler specifically works with upper-limb amputees. He and his team have brought a sense of physical touch to a prosthesis that has allowed amputees to pick up objects and even slice a tomato safely. They have fundamentally changed the mechanism from being a sporadically used tool to an actually-working “hand.” Tyler’s work has been featured in National Geographic. Ajiboye focuses on another aspect of prosthesis development: the invention and control of brain-computer interface, and neuroprosthetic technologies that restore function to the nervous system in the event of a stroke or spinal cord injury. He is also considered an international expert on brain implants, with some of his work featured in the 2019 documentary I AM HUMAN.

References: CWRU’s The Daily

Student Protest

By Margaret Adams

One week ago six people (three children aged nine, and three adults) were killed by a person using a military-style AR-15 rifle. On Monday, April 3, 2023, students in Nashville, Tennessee walked out of their classrooms and marched along with parents, teachers, and other supporters to protest gun violence. Students at other schools in other places also walked out of classrooms or held “walk-ins” where they expressed sorrow, anger, and disbelief. Their call was for state lawmakers to enact gun reform. Their call is for gun control now.

AR-15 is an umbrella term for a range of semi-automatic rifles made by a host of gun manufacturers. “AR” comes from the original gun manufacturer ArmaLite, Inc. The letters stand for ArmaLite Rifle and not “assault rifle” or “automatic rifle.” For a child shot with one of these rifles, according to Dr. Bindi Naik-Mathuria a pediatric trauma surgeon, injuries are almost unsurvivable and the damages are significant. Children who experience these shootings will always remember the horror.

There were 51 school shootings in 2022, according to www.edweek.org. Last year, Governor Mike Dewine signed a law making it legal to carry a concealed weapon. His solution for protecting children in schools is to make it easier for teachers to carry guns in schools and to decrease the amount of training required before possessing a firearm.

Maybe our children, our students, our parents, and other supporters need to march on the state legislatures and press for more realistic gun measures. It’s time we send children to school without the fear of gun violence.

Sources: USA Today 4/2/23 “Today in History”

NPR.org 2/28/18 “A Brief History of AR-15”

News.yahoo.com/what-can-an-ar-15-do-to-the-body (6/9/22)

Cleveland Reads One Million Books!

By Nicole D. Miller

Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb

Jennifer Jumba, coordinator of The People’s University at The Cleveland Public Library, and Kelly Woodard, CPL, director of marketing, are two forces behind The Cleveland Reads Initiative. Although conceived by Mayor Justin Bibb, this endeavor has taken a village.

In December 2022, the Public Auditorium gathered 1500 residents to launch the Book Bash for the Cleveland Reads Initiative. This was the start of a 52-week reading challenge for the city to meet the quota of completing one million books, or one million minutes, in 2023. A whopping 60,000 books were given away by the American Federation of Teachers at this historical first-time occurrence. Additionally, attendees enjoyed a live DJ, a 360-spin photo booth, and several vendor hot-ticket items.

The initiative scaled to the heights of the mayor’s office before trickling down to the boots-on-the-ground teachers vivaciously participating in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District—and this participation is much needed. Sadly, per Case Western Reserve University’s Literacy Needs Assessment Report for Cuyahoga County, only 33% of the city reads over a third-grade reading level. “That means only one-third can adequately decipher a credit card bill and make out the nuances of a bus schedule,” says Jennifer Jumba. The stark reality is that citizens struggle daily to execute everyday required life skills.

Both Jennifer and Kelly share that Cleveland Reads is the first initiative of its kind, and depending on how it goes, it likely won’t be the last. Not only is the goal to boost literacy rates, but this initiative is a hands-on approach to empower residents to escape poverty and jail time, which are often the fate of those dealing with illiteracy. According to the National Assessment of Adult Literacy, two-thirds of students who cannot read proficiently by the end of the fourth grade will end up in jail or on welfare, as cited by the Governor’s Early Literacy Foundation.

This city-wide undertaking is assisted by over 30 partners, including the RTA, Seeds of Literacy, Literary Cleveland, the Kid’s Book Bank, WKYC, and Chrishawndra Matthews of Literacy in the Hood. Each partner has a representative that participates in one of the following committees: marketing, outreach & engagement, programming, and financing. These representatives do their part by pumping their spheres with information to achieve the ultimate goal of success: one million books read.

Public Library Main Brach Downtown Cleveland

A stellar marketing team, of course, plays a huge role in meeting this lofty objective. Kelly informs that this resounding message of literacy has been blasted on all platforms, ranging from social media, press releases, and TV commercials, to even wrapping itself around four RTA buses rolling along the city’s streets. Additionally, on April 12, there will be a “Ride and Read” extravaganza where bands, free books, and signups for Cleveland Reads will occur. A party for literacy empowerment will be in full effect at routes stationed at Windermere, West Park & Tower City rapid stations.

“The launch of this campaign is ubiquitous,” says Jennifer, as she alludes to CPL’s grassroots approach to using community advocates called Neighborhood Reading Ambassadors. These folks flood the corners and pockets of various PTA meetings, church gatherings, and community book clubs. It is truly a group effort, and all hands are on deck.

Joining in on advancing the city’s literacy rates is easy. Simply sign up, grab a book, and read. In fact, it doesn’t even have to be a good old-fashioned paperback. Comic books, graphic novels, newspapers, audiobooks and the like are all acceptable reading material in this challenge. Courses from the GED (general educational development) and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programs are also instrumental in this quest because the work students complete in classes qualify as valid pages read. Some incentives for joining the reading challenge are various prizes ranging from wireless earbuds to a family fun pack to Kalahari Water Park.

Once registered, make sure to mark your calendars for the midpoint event at Public Square on May 12 from 5-8 p.m. featuring New York Times Best-Selling Author Jerry Craft.

The culmination of the challenge will be celebrated on December 2nd at the Public Auditorium from 12-3 p.m. For more information or to sign up, go to clevelandreads.com or any Cleveland Public Library branch.

Additional Source: Cleveland Magazine, One Million Books: Cleveland Aims to Boost Literacy Rates with Reading Challenge