Explanation
This ordinance authorizes a grant agreement between Columbus City Council and the Columbus Chess Academy for the continued administration of a chess instruction program for first graders.
Chess is a low-cost, highly-strategic game that provides an equal opportunity for all students to play while helping to foster a safe, fun, and effective learning environment. Play encourages strategic thinking, reasoning, problem solving, and decision-making. A first grade teacher at Hamilton STEM Academy indicated that the chess instruction helped students learn about sportsmanship and being on a team while expanding their capacity to focus for longer periods of time, which was anecdotally connected to improved test scores.
Studies have shown the positive effects of chess instruction on test scores in math and reading. Columbus City Schools (CCS) test data show improved scores on the Measuring Academic Progress (MAP) standardized tests the past two academic years for first grade students at Hamilton STEM Academy, which coincides with the introduction of the chess instruction program.
For the past two years volunteers have provided time and funding to provide chess lessons to students. The funding allocated through this ordinance will support the continuation of these lessons in 2020.
Emergency action is requested in order to avoid any disruption of instructional services for students.
Fiscal Impact: Funding is available within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund.
Title
To authorize Columbus City Council to enter into a grant agreement with the Columbus Chess Academy for the continued administration of a chess instruction program for first graders; to authorize an appropriation and expenditure within the Neighborhood Initiatives subfund; and to declare an emergency. ($5,000.00)
Body
WHEREAS, chess lessons have been provided to students at Hamilton STEM Academy for the past two years through volunteer time and funding; and
WHEREAS, it is in the interes...
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