LeBron James has made another move that further solidifies his standing as not only the best basketball player in the world, but also its most socially impactful.
The school board in Akron, Ohio has approved the plan for a public school being created in partnership with The Lebron James Family Foundation, which says the “I Promise” School in Akron will be geared toward educating students who are at risk of falling behind. It will have longer days and begin classes in the summer — weeks before other district schools — to encourage information retention.
The I PROMISE School
The LeBron James Family Foundation and Akron Public Schools have partnered to design a brand new school for the public school students in Akron who need it most. A culmination of years of on-the-ground work and research-based interventions through LeBron’s I PROMISE program, the proposed I PROMISE School will be more than a 1st – 8th grade academic institution.
It’s scheduled to open next fall for third- and fourth-graders and will add more grade levels in the years to come.
The idea is based on the foundation’s existing “I Promise” programs that encourage struggling students to stay in school.
“Being able to create this school to specifically meet the needs of these kids and their families means everything to me, James said. There are so many kids and families struggling, and we want this school to be a safe, positive place that helps them stay on the right track to earning their educations.”
UA: I Promise. Unlimited.
The University of Akron has partnered with The Lebron James Family Foundation to grant scholarships to students for whom a college education may have been out of reach.
