June 13, 2023
Summer is Here!
With this past school year in our rearview mirrors, it is the perfect moment to reflect on our children’s experiences at school and consider their options for the future. For new families with children who will begin school in the fall, summer is an important opportunity to ensure they are prepared for this next step, and identifying options for the 2023-2024 school year may be a vital part of that. The school search process can quickly become overwhelming, so beginning now and equipping yourself with the right resources is extremely important. The Cleveland Transformation Alliance’s school finder tool allows families to find the best options for themselves based on individual needs. As well as adjusting for the kinds of programs and services your child needs, the tool provides you with schools’ progress and achievement levels based on data collected by the Ohio Department of Education. The tool streamlines what would usually be an intensive research process for parents to tackle. If a family prefers personalized support, they can also contact the CTA directly and connect to one of our school choice navigators, that can more closely assist you through the school selection and enrollment process.
As well as identifying the best school options, families should consider how they will prepare their kids to enter or return to the classroom. Summer is a time for fun and continued learning, and many experiences in our local communities can help supplement education. One place for this is the Cleveland Public Library. The library offers free programs for all ages, such as a Young Scholars Academy for kindergarten preparation and a test and career prep center for older students looking towards plans after high school. The Ohio Department of Education’s website offers readiness assessments for all grade levels, including early learners, if you want more concrete benchmarks. Aside from programs, there are more manageable day-to-day things that supplement your child’s learning. Emphasizing time spent reading, completing age-appropriate workbooks, and allowing opportunities for problem-solving are all simple ways to foster your child’s learning and curiosity through the summer. Lastly, the CTA recently hosted a Family Cafe on Kindergarten readiness. Our cafes offer peer-led discussions for families to learn from one another and ask questions, be sure to check our website for upcoming Cafes to engage with throughout the summer. We hope you all have a relaxing and fruitful summer full of learning opportunities, and the CTA is here to provide support as you prepare for the school year to come.
Blog by Kendal Harris, Summer 2023 CTA Intern
Kendal Harris is a rising third-year Morrill Scholar at The Ohio State University, dual majoring in Public Affairs and African American Studies. As a summer intern for the CTA, they are highly interested in building better futures and communities for underserved populations.
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