Rep. Brennan Announces $5.79 Million in Additional Funds to Support Early Childhood Services

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Sean Patrick Brennan (D-Parma) today announced that the Controlling Board approved an additional $5.79 million in funding for early childhood services (from birth till five-years old). These funds will be used to hire teachers, assistant teachers and administrators, increasing the amount of Early Child Care Education programs across the state. Additionally, the funding supports an increase in children utilizing mental health services. 

“Investment in education is a bipartisan no-brainer, especially when it comes to early childhood intervention. As an educator for three decades, I know firsthand how important it is to provide appropriate interventions to our young learners,” said Rep. Brennan. “It greatly increases their chances for academic success when they get to the middle and high school level, where I spent my career.”

The Controlling Board also approved a $2.75 million investment for new IT projects in The Ohio Department of Education. This investment will allow the department to replace a nearly 20-year old IT system. The new IT system will improve the user experience, promote school improvement, and meet compliance requirements to access federal and state grant funds.

Other approved items include:

• $4.16 million to The Ohio Department of Development to spend on Emergency Solutions Grants (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA) Program funds.
• $200,000 to The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services for projects associated with the Ohio Analytics Partnership.
• $200,000 in funding for The Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, allowing incarcerated individuals to continue post-secondary education, college level courses, and improve employment skills.