By Sue Kiesewetter
The Cincinnati Enquirer

A Cincinnati charter school, two Greater Cincinnati public school districts and a Hamilton arts center are among 39 groups dividing $56.6 million over the next five years through the Ohio Department of Education's 21st Century Community Learning Grants.

The grants are designed to foster partnerships between schools, community and faith-based organizations that would improve reading and math.

"Research shows that the more time children spend learning, the more successful they are in school,'' said Susan Tave Zelman, superintendent of Ohio public instruction. "We expect these programs will more than double the time students spend learning the knowledge and skills they need to succeed.''

Local groups awarded the grants and the amount they will receive over five years are:

• St. Bernard-Elmwood Place Schools, $1.5 million.

• New Miami Schools, $678,295.

• East End Community Heritage Schools, $462,502.

• Fitton Center for Creative Arts, $1.345 million.

In the St. Bernard-Elmwood Place schools, several after-school and summer programs will be funded, along with expanded hours at school libraries. Students in all three buildings and at St. Clement School will be able to participate in homework assistance, YMCA summer camps, KidzLit and KidzMath enrichment programs expected to begin in March.

"Every kid has the opportunity to participate,'' said Superintendent Carroll Roberts.

Also planned are weekly literacy nights and enrichment classes.

Several organizations, including Seven Hills Neighborhood Houses, the University of Cincinnati College of Nursing, GearUp the LeBlond Recreation Center and the Urban Appalachian Council are teaming with East End Community Schools to provide services.

After-school programs there could begin next week, said Ruth Coon, one of the charter school's founders. Numerous classes including proficiency test tutoring, computer training, cheerleading, hip-hop dance and basketball will be offered 2-5 p.m. weekdays and Saturday mornings.

Up to 10 activities, each with 10-15 participants, will be scheduled daily at no cost to students, who could range from preschool to adults.

In Hamilton, the arts center is teaming with the Hamilton Schools, LifeSpan and Living Water Ministry to offer a collaborative program of arts, education and social services to children and adults through the Mega Mall of the Mind program.

It will be offered after school, on weekends and in summer at the arts center and Jefferson and Madison elementary schools, said Henry Cepluch, who is coordinating the program and is director of Arts In Common at the Fitton Center.

Among the offerings will be academic enrichment, physical activity, health education, technology and career skills, English as a second language, money management and mental health assessments.

"One of our goals will be to help people learn how to live in a pluralistic society through such non-traditional approaches as dance, food, drama and music,'' Cepluch said.

New Miami schools will use its money to open the media center to the community after school and during the summer. Adults will be given the chance to take computer classes or study for their high school equivalency tests.

Parents of preschoolers will be offered programs to help their children prepare for reading in school while high schoolers will learn about college opportunities.

E-mail suek@infi.net