Nov. 7, 2022 -- Cleveland Heights High School is proud to announce that it has received an $850,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Education to focus on college and career readiness over the next five years. The grant is part of the district’s 21st Century Community Learning Centers (CLC) after-school programs, which currently include offerings at Boulevard, Noble, Oxford, Roxboro Middle and Heights High Schools. Total annual funding from 21st Century's CLC grants now equals $800,000. 

Toward a Skillful and Successful Empowered Life, or TASSEL, will focus on credit recovery and credit flex for current 9th and 10th graders as well as micro-credentials and internship opportunities with the City of Cleveland Heights for 11th and 12th graders. Credit flex refers to teacher-designed methods for students to demonstrate mastery of content that may be more hands-on or project-based than a standard test. Micro-credentials can be earned for anything from SAT courses to babysitting and CPR training to ServeSafe for students working in the restaurant industry. 

Because 21st Century Learning programs include a Family Engagement component, there will also be educational offerings for parents and caregivers including how to pay for college and how to apply for loans from the Small Business Administration. These micro-credentials could be earned by parents attending alongside their children or on their own and will focus on practical skills with demonstrated need. 

The grant was one of just 52 awarded out of 204 applications from across the State of Ohio and constitutes yet another success for the district’s Supervisor of Federal Programs and Grants Sue Pardee. Meghan McMahon, who is the 21st Century Coordinator, and Bob Swaggard, who leads the district’s College and Career Readiness programs, will oversee administration of the grant and will integrate it into the district’s other programs focused on college acceptance and success, including GEAR UP. Steve Walker will lead as the on-site coordinator for the program. 

In addition to partnering with the City of Cleveland Heights for both internships and paid employment for students, TASSEL hopes to collaborate with the Heights Schools Foundation as well as with the Divine Nine, black sororities and fraternities, for mentoring opportunities for students.