SPARK Ohio of Stark and Summit County

08/25/2026

Kindergarten readiness gives Ohio children a four-year head start—setting the foundation for lifelong learning and success.

08/25/2026

The Early Childhood Resource Center is pleased to announce a $150,000 investment from the GAR Foundation in support of our SPARK kindergarten readiness program for 3- and 4-year-old children.

SPARK Ohio of Stark and Summit County helps families in Akron and across Summit and Stark counties access support to ensure their children’s success. SPARK Parent Partners visit the home monthly to deliver lessons and activities aligned with Ohio’s Early Learning and Development Standards. They work with their parents to develop a learning plan to ensure that the child will enter kindergarten ready and excited for school.

Thank you to the GAR Foundation for its continued partnership and commitment to strengthening our communities through early childhood education.

Learn more about our SPARK program at www.sparkohio.org or by calling 330.491.3272.

08/21/2026

The Early Childhood Resource Center is pleased to announce a $25,000 investment from the Barberton Community Foundation in support of our SPARK kindergarten readiness program for 3- and 4-year-old children.

SPARK Ohio of Stark and Summit County helps families in Barberton and across Summit and Stark counties access support to ensure their children’s success. SPARK Parent Partners visit the home monthly to deliver lessons and activities aligned with Ohio’s Early Learning and Development Standards. They work with their parents to develop a learning plan to ensure that the child will enter kindergarten ready and excited for school.

Thank you to the Barberton Community Foundation for its partnership and commitment to strengthening our communities through early childhood education.

Learn more about our SPARK program at www.sparkohio.org or by calling 330.491.3272.

08/19/2026

Just a little SPARK photo dump! 📸
We have been very busy with preschool graduation, our kiddos going to kindergarten, LOTS of community events and lessons. ❤️💙💛

08/19/2026

08/19/2026

SPARK Summit team members Samantha, Shannon, and Kelley were feeling adventurous as they shared info with families from Akron Public Schools at the annual APS Backpack Adventure event at the Akron Zoo.

The two-day event featured free backpacks and school supplies, student performances, community resources, and a free afternoon at the zoo for students entering grades K-5.

Thank you to the Akron Zoo and Akron Public Schools for inviting us to be part of the adventure and the opportunity to share information about our SPARK Ohio of Stark and Summit County Kindergarten readiness program, which continues to prepare children in Summit and Stark counties for success in kindergarten and beyond.

Interested in learning more about SPARK? Visit www.sparkohio.org or call us at 330.491.3272.

08/15/2026

We welcomed State Representative Scott Oelslager to our Canton office this morning to talk about the important work we are doing to support children and families across Northeast Ohio.

Representative Oelslager has been a longtime advocate of early childhood education and an enthusiastic supporter of our SPARK Ohio of Stark and Summit County kindergarten readiness program.

Thank you to Representative Oelslager for being a supportive partner over the years as we’ve worked together to improve the lives of our state’s children and families.

08/04/2026

Come see us at Massillon Night Out from 5-8

07/30/2026

Our SPARK Ohio kindergarten readiness program that serves selected school districts in Stark and Summit counties was featured this week in a cleveland.com article.

SPARK Ohio, which is free to families, supports 1,600 children annually in six Ohio counties, including 230 children per year in Summit County and 540 children per year in Stark County.

Read the story at: https://www.cleveland.com/akron/2026/07/spark-program-offers-free-kindergarten-readiness-for-akron-families.html

SPARK Ohio of Stark and Summit County