In Columbus, our highest aim is to link excellence in education with economic opportunity and to build a true regional educational learning system.  

The Community Education Coalition is a public private partnership of education, business, and community stakeholders focused on aligning and integrating our community learning system, economic development, and quality of life. 

Strategic Goals:

1. Promote the value and importance of a seamless learning system that offers accessible, affordable education for students of all ages

2. Serve as an advocate for excellence in education • Foster collaboration to advance student achievement across the entire learning system (Pre-K through grade 16 and beyond) 

3. Strongly support and encourage education partners as they attract, develop, and retain the highest quality faculty 

4. Serve as a catalyst for establishing Columbus as a regional center for higher education and workforce development 

5. Foster a stronger linkage between economic development and education initiatives 

6. Foster efficient and effective use of resources; supporting complementary services 

7. Evaluate and measure educational system progress against goals and report regularly to community

Investments in the Regional Learning System include:

• $16 million by Columbus community for learning system program improvements (including $5.85 million grant from Lilly Endowment)
  
  

• $25 million for Columbus Learning Center (plus 20-year annual operating budget for facility)
  
  

• $2.5 million for workforce development managed by Region 9 (advanced manufacturing, embedded systems, supervision, and nursing)
  
  

• $2 million for Dream It Do It state-wide initiative (a portion of which will flow through Region 9)
  
  

• $2 million annually for bachelors and masters degrees programs (MBA and Engineering)

Accomplishments:

• The 130,000 square-foot Columbus Learning Center opened in May of this year, as a result of $29.7 million in state funding and a 20-year operating agreement with the State of Indiana . Two CAPE programs, the Center for Teaching and Learning and College and Career Exploration Center (formerly Careers in Indiana ), are housed in the learning center.
  
  

• Thirteen bachelor degree programs and one master's degree program have been added to offerings from IUPUC and Purdue College of Technology Columbus/SEI. (Compared to 2 bachelor programs in 2000.) 
  
  

• More than 75 certificate and two-year degree programs are now offered by Ivy Tech Community College . (Compared to approximately 20 programs in 2000.) 
  
  

• Comprehensive transfer-of-credit agreements are now in place between Ivy Tech Community College and Indiana University Purdue University Columbus. Our region has moved from being one of the least “articulated” to one of the best “articulated” 
  
  

• Establishment of a health occupations advisory group from the region's five hospitals meets quarterly to discuss key education programs and workforce issues 
  
  

• $3 million in bridge money has been raised by the Columbus community to support the degree program start-ups (2003/4) at all three post-secondary institutions
  
  

• The Columbus office of WorkOne is also located in the Columbus Learning Center, linking worker assessments, career counseling, and unemployment services with the post-secondary providers. In addition, WorkOne resources will be available readily to K-12 and post-secondary students. 
  
  

• CAPE has helped encourage an additional investment in excess of $4 million in the “learning system” by local, regional, and national foundations; local business and industry; and state and federal government grants. 
  
  

• Establishment of discussions among a growing number of counties in South Central and South Eastern Indiana that wish to pursue development of an education and workforce partnership to encourage growth and alignment of post-secondary education and workforce training offerings. 
  
  

• Received another CAPE grant, in partnership with the Heritage Fund, for $800,000 which will support the Center for Teaching and Learning and the Community Education Coalition. Both are viewed as centerpieces of our community learning systems' efforts. 
  
  

• Received $211,000 Strategic Skills Initiative Grant from the Dept. of Workforce Development to identity occupational skills shortages and develops programs to address those problems. 
  
  

• Teamed with Bartholomew Consolidated School Corporation to:

  • Develop a community advisory team to support innovation in secondary education, including “educational centers of excellence” 

  • Provide financial support for Director of K – 6 Instruction position and, for the creation of a “data-warehouse” 

  • Support formation of a community-wide literacy task force