What's New

May 09, 2013
May 03, 2013

Connect with SEI

History & Background

In January 1996, leaders from the community joined together to create the framework that would become Summit Education Initiative.  The Founding Mission was to engage and mobilize, in an innovative manner, a broad base of people and resources to significantly improve education for all children in Summit County.  SEI has continued to evolve to reflect the educational needs of children and the community.

In spring 2006, at SEI´s invitation, more than 50 leaders from across the community participated in conversations about SEI´s direction and focus.  This led to updating SEI´s mission and vision. It also led to defining SEI´s role more clearly.

Defining Events

Defining events shape an organization. Here are a few that illustrate the commitment of SEI and its partners to improving education across Summit County.

  • 1998: Standards-Based Reform — SEI partnered with several Summit County school districts to develop a set of clear standards for what each student should know and be able to do.  SEI worked with partnering districts to implement these standards.  Subsequently, the State of Ohio adopted academic standards for the entire state.
  • 1999: Celebrate the Stars — For five years, this annual event recognized the best of teaching, learning, and school-community partnerships across Summit County.
  • 2000: Networks for Teachers — A group of teachers came together to design inquiry-based learning experiences in partnership with the Cuyahoga Valley Environmental Education Center.
  • 2001: Education Summit — This summit resulted in the founding of the Education Leadership Roundtable, which subsequently launched This City Reads!, a community-based effort to promote reading.
  • 2003: Closing the Achievement Gap — Joseph Johnson, Ohio Department of Education, spoke at a community forum that addressed the learning gaps between groups of students.  Out of this effort, SEI and Coming Together Akron created Plug-Ins for Parents.
  • 2004: Learning 24/7 Begins — Seven schools and seven community organizations pioneered this work that has continued to expand.  Current emphasis is on math benchmarks for middle grade youngsters.
  • 2005: Goodyear Leadership Network for Education — The first group of chief education leaders was selected from public school districts, private schools, non-profit organizations with a focus on education, and university deans.
  • 2005: Destination College Class I — The first group of juniors was selected from Garfield High School and the 13-month program started in May 2005.
  • 2006: Destination College Expands — Program expanded to Barberton High School (Barberton City Schools) while continuing the program at Garfield High School (Akron Public Schools).
  • 2006: Plug-Ins for Parents — A Web-based resource for parents was launched in January 2006 that describes more than 200 out-of-school programs available across Summit County to enhance and support children and their learning.
  • 2006: P-16 Alliance of Summit County Established — Partners representing 16 organizations came together to create a seamless pathway from early childhood through postsecondary programs.  KnowledgeWorks Foundation funded initial planning work.
  • 2009: P-16 Alliance - EXPLORE Testing — Eighth grade students from Akron Public Schools, Coventry, Cuyahoga Falls, and Tallmadge were given the ACT-EXPLORE test.  Parent advisory sessions were conducted in the winter of 2010 to review career interest and academic preparation prior to students scheduling their school classes.
  • 2010: Board Develops New Strategic Plan — The SEI Board of Directors refines its Strategic Plan with the guidance of Cleveland firm Enlight.
  • 2011: Business Updates — The strategy to align SEI Operations with the guiding vision and mission resulted in the transfer of the very successful programs Destination College, Summit Scholars, and SPARK to other Summit County agencies.  The Board of Directors expands, as part of the Strategic Plan, by adding two school superintendents and seven additional business and community leaders.  Also, the Board completed the search for a new Executive Director who will lead SEI in the delivery of its objectives outlined in the Strategic Plan.
  • April, 2012: "Their Success Is Our Success" Event — SEI formally announces to the community its new strategic plan to lead the collaborative effort in Summit County to Align & Engage For Student Achievement Cradle to Career focusing on six transition areas in the education pipeline.
  • May, 2012: Preschool Transition Progress Report — Piloted with great success and redesigned for an expanded rollout across Summit County, the Preschool Transition Progress Report project aims to promote a shared understanding of school readiness expectations across early childhood settings by 2016.
  • August, 2012: Senior Research Associate Is Hired — He will provide the research and data analysis necessary to support the work of SEI and its strategic partners.  Memos of Understanding are introduced with schools, preschools, and districts to share data with SEI to build the data system for the Transition Teams.