Legislation to Establish A Network of Regional Education Partnerships Set to Become Law

State Representatives Andrea White (R-Kettering) and Tom Young (R-Centerville) amended HB312 into SB208- a lame duck education Christmas tree bill in the final weeks of the 135th General Assembly and it was signed by Governor Mike DeWine earlier this afternoon.  

This bill, which worked through the legislative process from October of 2023 to December 2024,  will help to establish several pre-kindergarten to postsecondary partnerships that work together locally to identify, track, and improve key performance metrics in their communities. These collective impact partnerships combine a variety of community stakeholders such as educators, employers, nonprofits, businesses, and philanthropies in order to work to achieve agreed-upon initiatives in their communities to ensure students have the tools and resources they need for success from early childhood through securing a spot in the workforce. Typically, Regional Education Partnerships measure their success by tracking outcomes on a set of core metrics – such as kindergarten readiness, third grade reading proficiency, high school graduation, post high school education, workforce readiness and job attainment – all proven to yield lower poverty, crime and substance abuse levels while increasing earned income, financial security, safer communities and longer, healthier lifespans.

Prior to 2022, Ohio had four strong Regional Education Partnerships including one in the Montgomery County area – Learn to Earn Dayton. In late 2021, the General Assembly invested $2 million in HB 169 to help expand Regional Partnerships beyond these four. In just over a year with this seed money, Ohio now currently has 10 Regional Partnerships covering 20 counties – all working collaboratively to successfully drive education and workforce success for our children and families including: 

·       The Gallia-Jackson-Vinton-Meigs Regional Education Partnership hired career coaches not only for the high school population, but also for students in grades 6-8. Those coaches have been able to implement career exploration classes, facilitate job shadowing, internships, and even job opportunities.

·        The Northwest Ohio Regional Education Partnership piloted a universal pre-k program that serves 280 children and is on track to start serving 400 students next year. Additionally, they gave access to over 900 high school students to participate in college tours which resulted in a 35% increase in college admission to partner schools (Bowling Green State University and University of Toledo) as well as a 15% increase in college enrollment in those schools. They also more than doubled the number of students who applied for scholarships and helped to secure more than $350,000 in scholarship funds through the Greater Toledo Community Foundation. 

·       The Southern Ohio K6 Careers program has helped develop and launch the second pilot program of Careers in My Community. This is a curriculum designed to increase career awareness for elementary schoolers by giving them opportunities to engage with local businesses both in the classroom and through fieldtrips. They have also enhanced partnerships that will further strengthen pathways for students going into critical healthcare and skilled trades fields. 

·       The West Central Ohio Regional Education Partnership has focused on supporting student career pathways from early childhood through the time they are ready to enter workforce and increase number of local partners willing to align their plans to support the regional work being done there. This partnership reached complete agreement on their priorities across Darke, Miami, Preble, and Shelby counties. Stark Education Partnership has completed a new strategic plan shifting the organization’s focus to career connected work. The Partnership is on track to engage 4,000-5,000 students next school year. They also partnered with middle schools and high schools, as well as 26 local businesses, to implement YouScience (interest/aptitude inventory) with nearly 2,000 students. 

·       In the Cincinnati region, Cradle to Career Cincinnati has established 10 community learning centers spread across Cincinnati Public School and formalized a partnership with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital to develop an early childhood curriculum. They’ve engaged more than 2,000 parents through the launch of the Parent Champions Network

“Continuing to expand and sustain Regional Education Partnerships throughout Ohio is a key strategy that works – and one we can use to continue to increase our citizens’ post-high school credential and degree attainment to 65% and beyond,” said White. “We are so excited to be taking this pivotal next step by passing HB 312 and helping to secure the educational and economic success for our students, our communities and Ohio’s future.” 

The Regional Education Partnership model has already proven to be successful in obtaining metrics and reaching goals in communities across Ohio. With the passage of this bill, the hope is that there will be more regions in Ohio that will replicate this process and use community collaboration to solve some of the problems many communities are seeing from cradle to career. The bill will now become law in 90 days.