KnowledgeWorks lists more than 60 partners. Among them:

        • Lighthouse Community School, Madisonville. KnowledgeWorks fronted $341,100 to help start the school this fall and cover personnel costs.

Arnez Booker, a teacher at Lighthouse Community School. (Glenn Hartong photo) | ZOOM |

        Robert Mecum, executive director at Lighthouse Youth Services, said he was surprised by KnowledgeWorks' level of involvement.

        Foundation workers met many times with Lighthouse staff, visited Lighthouse facilities and even hired a researcher and videographer to document what it takes to start a new charter school.

        There are 36 students, ages 11 to 16 — mostly from Lighthouse's residential programs — who attend the school.

        Lighthouse is one of three charter schools created in cooperation with Cincinnati Public Schools. The school operates as a public school but is managed by Lighthouse.

        The school is designed to serve students in foster care who were not succeeding in regular classrooms. Lighthouse Community School aims to help these students earn a high school diploma and prepare them for life on their own, as well as future education.

        • The foundation proved its mettle by being invited to participate in the National College Access Network, based on work done in Ohio.

        • In partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, KnowledgeWorks will help Cincinnati Public Schools and West Clermont Local Schools restructure their large high schools into smaller environments geared toward specific achievement goals. The foundation will take 26 educators from both districts to visit successful small high schools in New York on Monday and Tuesday.

Money, yes - and muscle, too
Teaming up: Partners aplenty