Learning is Cool

This school year, the Marvin Lewis Community Fund (MLCF) will partner with Cincinnati Public Schools to launch "Learning is Cool," an educational incentive program that rewards students for strong academic performance.

This program is designed to encourage all 19,486 1st-8th grade students in Cincinnati Public Schools to make the "A" honor roll each quarter. Students who make the "A" honor roll two quarters of the year will be invited to the Academic Achievement Party at Paul Brown Stadium tentatively scheduled for May 2009. At the party, Coach Marvin Lewis and participating Bengals will award them a medal. Robert Geathers, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Johnathan Joseph and Domata Peko are among the participating players.

Corporate partners for the program include Baker Concrete, Berman Printing, Cincinnati Bengals, Interbrand, Macy's, Procter & Gamble, National City, Navis Pack & Ship, and Staples.

"This partnership with Cincinnati Public Schools is about helping students achieve their dreams, and that starts in the classroom," said Coach Lewis. "Our hope is that we can inspire them to work harder and earn the "A" honor roll."

"We are delighted that the Marvin Lewis Community Fund chose our district for this tremendous effort," adds Mary Ronan, interim superintendent of schools. "This program will help strengthen efforts we're making throughout this district to improve student achievement by providing incentives for students to achieve their best everyday."

Students received "Learning is Cool" packs that include: letters to every parent from Lewis and the players, a poster, a pencil, a notebook, and other school supplies. Quarterly incentives will be issued for students, teachers, principals, and schools that include buttons, gift certificates, and other classroom learning activities or technology needed.

The Cincinnati Public School system has two honor roll categories, "A" Honors and "A" Average. The goal of the "Learning is Cool" program is to double the amount of students making honor roll in the 2008-09 school year and the triple the amount in 2009-10.

For more information on Cincinnati Public Schools, visit www.cps-k12.org

By the Numbers...

19,486 - The number of students participating in Learning is Cool during 2008-09 school year

286 - The number of students in the Youth Development through Sports program in 2005 and 2006 who made the honor roll (Learning is Cool is modeled after the Youth Development through Sports program)

48 - Number of Cincinnati Public Schools participating in Learning is Cool

30 - Percentage of students who made "A" Average during the 2007-08 school year

8 - Percentage of students who made "A" Honor during the 2007-08 school year

5 - Members of the Cincinnati Bengals organization participating (Marvin Lewis, Robert Geathers, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Johnathan Joseph, and Domata Peko)

3x - The goal for the number of students achieving the honor roll during the 2009-10 school year with Learning is Cool

2x - The goal for the number of students achieving the honor roll during the 2008-09 school year with Learning is Cool