Governor DeWine’s 2024 Initiatives
Earlier in April of this year during the State of the State Address, Governor Mike DeWine shared his hopes and objectives for lawmakers and his optimism for increased bipartisan cooperation for 2024, especially on the topics of prioritizing education—particularly the science of reading approach—mental health, and addiction. As we approach the start of the fall term and lawmakers ramp up legislative action on pending bills; we’ll see how closely they align with fulfilling the needs of our Ohio communities.
Governor DeWine cited a variety of measures taken to improve education at all ages. His administration has expanded science of reading programs across Ohio, such as phonics, to increase literacy rates among children of early education age, alongside the allocation of $100 million for teacher training and the curriculum of this subject. The Governor also expanded high school career tech centers to promote manufacturing jobs with money from the legislature and introduced a scholarship uniquely for college-bound students. This scholarship will grant 2024 high school graduates in the top 5% of their class an extra $5,000 per year, up to four years, to go to any state or private university.
DeWine’s administration also hopes to promote the expansion of services for those with mental health and addiction concerns. DeWine explained the continued need for more professionals to work in this field. To address the shortage of mental health providers, the state legislature provided funding to pay originally uncompensated student interns in mental health services to garner a more prominent mental health workforce.
Above all, the Governor hopes to keep Ohio moving in 2024, especially within progressing education, mental health and addiction service, and economic development.
Below is a summary of highlights from the DeWine administration and next steps towards his initiatives.
Science of Reading
Accomplishment: With the help of $64 million state investment, Ohio’s schools are implementing literacy curricula aligned with the Science of Reading, a method of literacy education based on decades of research that teaches reading in the way that brains learn best.
Next Steps: Governor DeWine called on every president, provost, and dean of a college of education at all of Ohio’s colleges and universities to align their teacher preparation programs to the science of reading.
Let Every Ohio Child See/Vision Testing Plan
Next Steps: Governor DeWine announced the Children’s Vision Strike Force, led by Ohio Department of Health Director Bruce Vanderhoff, M.D., MBA, to scale local efforts to ensure every student who fails a vision screening has a follow up comprehensive eye exam and is able to receive glasses if they need them.
School-Based Health Clinics
Accomplishment: As part of the General Assembly’s historic investment in Appalachia, Governor DeWine recently announced the Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, which is helping 20 Ohio counties create or expand community- and school-based health clinics to serve at least 61,000 students and 375,000 residents.
Next Steps: Governor DeWine asked the Ohio Departments of Health and Education and Workforce to work together to provide technical assistance to any school district that wants to create their own school-based health clinic.
Early Childhood Education
Next Steps: The Governor announced a revision to the child care quality rating system to simplify and reduce paperwork, focus on better outcomes for kids, and, for the first time ever, provide quality-rated programs with access to curriculum aligned with the Science of Reading.
Accomplishment: With the support of the General Assembly, the DeWine administration has increased access to child care and Ohio’s public preschool program through expanded eligibility and investment. As a result, more than 16,000 children are being served today.
Next Steps: Governor DeWine announced a new Child Care Choice Voucher Program that will provide financial support for an additional 8,000 Ohio children. Qualifying families are those earning up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level or $60,000 for a family of four. Expanding child care access for working families is essential for a thriving economy.
Educator and Administrative Development
Accomplishment: In 2023, the Governor announced the creation of the Teacher Apprenticeship Program where school leaders identify potential future teachers already working in the schools and provide them with an opportunity to participate in a registered apprenticeship program to obtain their teaching license.
Next Steps: DeWine announced that the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce would create a Principal Apprenticeship Program where up-and-coming principals can receive hands-on, in-school training from veteran principals to better prepare them for challenges on the job.
Career Pathways
Accomplishment: Not every career requires a traditional 4-year degree, and with the support of the General Assembly, the Governor announced $200 million in grants to grow new career tech classrooms at 35 training centers. Just last month, he awarded $67 million to 56 programs to purchase additional training equipment so more students can access training on state-of-the-art equipment.
Next Steps: DeWine asked the legislature to make a change in statute that would require career planning into existing high school graduation requirements. The goal is for all Ohio graduates to have a clear path toward a career.
Healthy Kids
Next Steps: The Governor announced the launch of Family Connects, a pilot program in 11 Ohio counties that will provide an evidence-based, universal nurse newborn home visiting program, to offer support and answer questions families may have.
Helping Those in Crisis
Accomplishment: Governor DeWine and the director of the Ohio Department of Mental Health are working on building the mental health system to help Ohioans where and when they need it, including establishing a mobile response stabilization service to respond to those in crisis in 38 counties.
Next Steps: The Governor plans to expand the mobile response stabilization service to all 88 Ohio counties so families across the state will have someone to call if their child is in crisis.
Delta 8 and Marijuana
Next Steps: Governor DeWine called on the General Assembly to pass legislation that would restrict the sale of intoxicating hemp, also known as Delta-8 products. The Governor has previously endorsed legislation that would require Delta-8 products to be sold under the same restrictions as regulated marijuana. Governor DeWine also called on the General Assembly to pass legislation to make clear marijuana cannot be smoked in public places, especially places where smoking marijuana would interfere with children and other Ohioans who should not or would not want to be around such smoke.
Tobacco
Accomplishment: To reduce youth tobacco use, Ohio has adopted a higher minimum purchase age of 21 years old.
Next Steps: Given that 81% of 12- to 15-year-olds who first tried tobacco did so with flavored tobacco products, Governor DeWine called on the Biden administration to enact proposed rules that would ban the sale of flavored tobacco and e-liquid products. Absent a federal rule, Governor DeWine called on the General Assembly to pass a uniform, statewide flavored tobacco ban as well.
Safety on the Roads
Accomplishment: Ohio’s distracted driving law, which was a major initiative of the Governor, has been in effect for several months and has yielded a significant reduction in traffic collisions, preventing an estimated 3600 collisions and 2000 injuries. This has been done by making distracted driving a primary offense for law enforcement.
Next Steps: DeWine’s administration pledged to work with the General Assembly on making not wearing a seatbelt a primary offense for law enforcement, which should have a similar result in reducing fatalities as distracted driving primary enforcement did.
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