Stay in the Game Attendance Network Partners with Battelle to Impact More Than 300,000 Ohio Students

May 1, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
Columbus Crew SC News Release

BEREA, Ohio – The Stay in the Game! Attendance Network (SITG!) proudly announces that it is joining forces with Battelle to impact more than 300,000 Ohio students through supporting Ohio districts and schools in dramatically improving attendance along with the Networks founding partners the Cleveland Browns Foundation, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, and Harvard’s Proving Ground. Along with the support from the Columbus Crew and the Cleveland Browns, Stay in the Game! is excited for this partnership with Battelle to help get students in school every day. Battelle will be the new ‘Network backbone,’ hosting SITG! operations.

Battelle, one of the world’s largest, independent research and development organizations, is headquartered in Columbus with over 30,000 employees worldwide. Battelle is also a renowned supporter of education networks focused on STEM education and computer science, to increase and diversify the STEM workforce. Through this partnership, Stay in the Game! will have access to Battelle’s network backbone support systems, partners and allied organizations with the commitment to emphasizing attendance as a foundational pillar for academic achievement. With a strong commitment to fostering diversity in education, Battelle’s new role signals a significant commitment in addressing chronic absenteeism and advancing student outcomes in Ohio and across the country.

Starting July 1, Battelle will serve as the fiscal agent and point of contact for the Network, coordinating and facilitating activities and initiatives with partner school districts and sports teams. Currently operated by the Cleveland Browns Foundation, SITG! has grown from thirteen districts at its start during the 2019-2020 school year to now expecting more than 100 districts for the 2024-25 school year and with this significant growth, SITG! has outgrown the Foundation’s ability to house the effort on its own. Battelle will also provide leadership, support, and resources – along with the Browns, Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and Harvard’s Proving Ground – to help achieve the Network’s goal to have 90% of all Ohio students attending school more than 90% of the time by 2030.

“We are excited to announce Battelle, a renowned organization in the education space, as our new host for the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network,” said Dee Haslam, Managing and Principal Partner of Haslam Sports Group….