Peer Learning Networks
Change happens when partners come together
Collaborate. Learn. Lead. Change
Real systems change happens when community partners learn from one another, align strategies and co-create solutions. Our Peer Learning Networks (PLNs) are structured spaces where educators, nonprofit leaders, families and other stakeholders build shared knowledge and take collective action to improve outcomes for Summit County youth.
These groups are organized around key transition points in a student’s cradle-to-career journey and bring together high impact partners with the reach, readiness and resources to drive meaningful change. Partners include: schools, nonprofits, government agencies and community-based organizations working directly with students and families. We ensure each network includes voices of those best positioned to implement and scale solutions.
Peer Learning Networks:- Unite high impact partners around shared goals and student outcomes.
- Use local data to uncover gaps, track progress, and guide collective decision-making.
- Share best practices to strengthen programs and policies.
- Test and scale solutions using our collaborative improvement process.
- Elevate community voice to ensure strategies reflect lived experience and student needs.
SEI-Designed and Led Peer Learning Networks (PLNs)
K-8 Collaborative
Advancing kindergarten readiness
This collaborative anchors our efforts to ensure more children enter kindergarten ready to learn. We are using PLNs and local partnerships to align early childhood instruction with kindergarten expectations and scaling promising practices across systems.
Early Language and Learning Network
This network, in partnership with Akron Public Schools, focuses on identifying literacy barriers and improving Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) outcomes. Teachers and leaders analyze TS Gold and classroom observation data to address instructional gaps and implement effective strategies. Mental health and other wraparound supports are also explored as readiness factors.
Foundations for Learning Network
This network brings together preschool teachers, support staff and directors to examine the alignment between preschool and kindergarten expectations. By comparing Creative Curriculum, the Transition Skills Summary (TSS), TS Gold and KRA outcomes, the team identifies instructional disconnects and co-designs aligned strategies. Key partners include Head Start and the YMCA.
Barberton Preschool Collaborative
This community-led initiative focuses on increasing access to high-quality preschool in Barberton. This collaborative strengthens coordination between providers, Barberton City Schools and civic leaders while addressing workforce and evaluation challenges through dedicated workgroups.
Summit County Youth Coalition
Advancing student voice
This student-led network elevates youth voice in school and community decision-making with representatives from districts across the county.
Post-Secondary Success Network
Advancing life preparedness
This network ensures students are prepared for life after high school by aligning supports around post-secondary enrollment, persistence and completion.
Summit County Parent Coalition Advancing parent voice
This coalition engages families as key partners in education by lifting parent voice, co-designing solutions and building leadership capacity among parent partners.
Get involved!
Our Peer Learning Networks comprise High-Impact Partners and are by invite only. But we welcome mission-aligned partners who share our commitment to improving education in Summit County. Interested? Complete our short form. Submissions are reviewed regularly.
Community-Aligned and Partner-Led Networks
We work with governments, schools, nonprofits and civic leaders to align strategies, share data and improve outcomes for children and families across Summit County. We serve as a facilitator and thought partner, helping ensure local initiatives are connected, coordinated and focused on equitable opportunities from cradle to career.
Together for Akron: Growing Together
Advancing early learning
We are a proud partner in Akron Mayor Shammas Malik’s Together for Akron plan, a bold, community-centered strategy designed to tackle Akron’s biggest challenges and unlock its greatest opportunities. Under the Growing Together pillar, which focuses on expanding opportunity for youth and older adults, we support the development of a Universal Early Learning System in Akron.
Our team sits is part of the core leadership of this effort, partnering with early childhood experts and civic leaders to design a coordinated, high-quality early learning system that meets the needs of all Akron families. As a co-facilitator and data lead, we are helping plan, measure and implement the program, ensuring every child in Akron gets the strong start they need to thrive.
Youth Success Summit: Synergy Team
Advancing high-quality out-of-school opportunities
This cross-sector coalition works to ensure that youth farthest from opportunity (i.e. those impacted by systemic barriers related to race, place or socioeconomic status) are connected to high-quality, interest-based out-of-school opportunities. These experiences help young people build essential skills, expand their networks and gain the social capital needed for long-term success. We are the co-lead and data expert of this team, supporting the design of systems and strategies that make these opportunities more accessible, aligned and sustainable so every young person has the support and connections they need to thrive.
Get involved
Access our interactive dashboards to uncover trends, identify opportunity gaps and drive smart decision-making in your organization or school
Collaborate deeply with SEI and other cross-sector leaders to drive measurable change. Apply to become one of our High-Impact Partners.
Tell us your success story or innovative practice that’s making a difference for students and families so we can amplify what’s working across Summit County.
Districts can launch Students for Equity and Excellence (SEE) clubs. A leaders from each club serves on the countywide Youth Coalition.
Out-of-school time (OST) agencies can collaborate with OST providers on data-driven strategies for safe and engaging after-school programs.
Support our programs, data tools and publications or sponsor events such as our annual fundraiser, workshops, forums or SCYC programs.