I CAN SCHOOLS is a nonprofit charter management organization founded in 2008 to operate schools that provide all students with a high quality educational experience. I CAN SCHOOLS is governed by an board of directors. The network schools are operated by an executive management and staff comprised of educators and community stakeholders. Each I CAN SCHOOLS program has a local school board responsible for academic and fiscal oversight.
The Founders
Co-founders, Jason Stragand and Marshall Emerson III, were the founding administration of highly successful, and highly touted, Ohio charter public schools. Their schools were successful in closing the achievement gap for low income students from Ohio's underserved neighborhoods. Over the past decade, hundreds of visitors have passed through the thresholds of their schools and have become fans and advocates of their successes.
Innovative & Ambitious
Currently, I CAN SCHOOLS serves students in grades Kindergarten through Eighth at Cleveland College Preparatory School, in the Slavic Village neighborhood, Kindergarten through Eighth at the University of Cleveland Preparatory School in midtown Cleveland and Kindergarten through Ninth at Northeast Ohio College Preparatory School in the near west side neighborhood of Tremont. I CAN SCHOOLS programs are innovative, ambitious, and it is the expectation that all of the graduating Eighth graders attend the Northeast Ohio College Preparatory School Upper School for a college preparatory high school experience. All of the I CAN SCHOOLS programs are modeled after high-performing charter schools found in other urban centers across the country.
In the fall of 2012, I CAN SCHOOLS will open Lake Erie College Preparatory School in the Collinwood neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Lake Erie College Preparatory School will serve students in grades Kindergarten through Eighth.