Op-Ed: Building Ohio’s Future Through Education, Workforce, and Community Collaboration

As an urban resident in Ohio, I see firsthand the urgency of building a more sustainable economic future for our cities. Programs like TechCred, which provides industry-recognized credential training to Ohio workers, and the Innovative Workforce Incentive Program, which allocates $25 million to help students earn career credentials, are steps in the right direction. They connect our workforce to modern jobs while strengthening the “choose local” ethos—supporting community colleges, small businesses, and neighborhood talent pipelines.

Yet we must go further. To make real change, Ohio needs policies that foster long-term public-private collaboration, encourage employers to take active roles in career pathways, and prevent educational opportunities from being limited to short-term funding cycles.

Equally important is the state’s investment in literacy and equitable education. The Science of Reading initiative, which provides literacy coaches, educator training, and recognition programs, has laid a foundation for stronger outcomes in classrooms across Ohio.

The Fair School Funding Plan (HB 1) directs necessary resources toward ESL learners, transportation, gifted education, and urban school systems. These measures matter because they ensure that education is not a privilege, but a shared resource that uplifts all communities. However, proposed reductions in school foundation aid are a troubling reminder that progress can be fragile. Education should not be subject to political swings—it should be a permanent and protected priority for our state.

The good news is that solutions are within reach, if we are willing to work together. Workforce development and quality education do not belong to one party or ideology—they are shared concerns that transcend political lines. Imagine pairing literacy coaches with local business mentors, or linking TechCred incentives directly to community college pathways; these are practical steps that create both fiscal value and human value. When our schools are strong, our workforce is prepared, and our policies reflect collective investment. An educated community is the cornerstone of economic sustainability, and collaborative, community-driven policy is the bridge in the right direction.

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Ohio Policy Front

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