The Educational Service Center of Lake Erie West (ESCLEW) has been sponsoring community schools in Ohio since 1998 and was one of the original pilot program sponsors. Today, ESCLEW provides responsible oversight, monitoring, and technical assistance to 47 community schools statewide. The staff in our Community Schools Center provides a focus on academic, operational, and fiscal integrity. The Community Schools Center is accepting applications for new schools and replication or transfer of sponsorship for the 2026-27 school year.
Community schools attract students due to their unique educational approach and program offerings. Community schools prioritize developmentally appropriate instruction, educational effectiveness, and academic achievement. The ESC of Lake Erie West sponsors 13 special-needs schools, two autism schools, a gifted education school, and two e-schools—one of which focuses on dropout prevention and recovery. Our portfolio also includes schools specializing in STEM and STEAM education, college preparatory classes, bilingual education, career and technical education, and character development.
The promise community schools hold for educational reform lies in a thoughtful combination of freedom and accountability. Underwritten with public funds but run independently, community schools are held accountable by their sponsors for academic, fiscal, and organizational/operational performance and must meet the same rigorous standards as traditional school districts.