Policy Priorities
Ohio Excels actively works to shape policy, backed by data and best practices, that can improve educational outcomes for all students.
Ohio’s future and the future success of our students, families, and communities is determined by the knowledge and skills of our residents.
We know that improving the quality of education—from early childhood through higher education—provides students a better chance to succeed in a changing economy and will ultimately help Ohio businesses grow and innovate, giving Ohio a competitive advantage in the world marketplace.
We believe that 2026 will be a year of action and preparation. Ohio Excels will be championing key business and education priorities in areas such as career-connected learning, data analysis, and mathematics as well as monitoring activity tied to our policy priorities. Ohio Excels will also continue research and policy development and engage policymakers and campaigns to position Ohio Excels for impact in 2027 and beyond.
As always, we will also be working with partners to ensure important new policies, programs, and reforms are put into practice effectively across the state in alignment with our enduring policy principles. These include literacy efforts to implement the science of reading, a new attainment goal for the state, and improvements to industry credentials, among others.
The enduring policy principles below guide all of Ohio Excels' efforts. We invite you to explore each principle below to learn more about the policy priorities we are actively pursuing in 2026.
Ohio Excels’ Reality Check highlights essential information and the overall health of the state’s education and workforce system, from early learning, K-12, and postsecondary education. These data points are vital for all Ohioans, but it is especially important for our state leaders to understand. Ohio Excels believes in a data-driven approach to improving education, and we offer solutions to these issues in our policy priorities below.
Early Childhood Education:
Expanding Access, Quality, Capacity, and Kindergarten Readiness
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Early childhood education must be affordable and accessible, particularly for low-income working families.
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Child care should be more than babysitting; it must provide strong developmental and educational foundations to prepare children for kindergarten success.
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Quality standards and transparency are essential to ensure programs deliver real learning outcomes.
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Expanding system capacity is critical to meet the growing demand for early childhood education and to support Ohio’s workforce.
K-12 Education: Accelerating, Funding, and Diversifying Learning Opportunities
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All students can succeed and should be held to high expectations.
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Reading literacy, numeracy and digital literacy are foundational skills that must be prioritized.
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Technology and innovation should be integrated into the classroom to improve teaching and learning, especially the use of AI.
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School funding, for all school types, should be sustainable and student-centered.
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Families should have affordable access to a high-quality school that meets the needs of their children.
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Families and communities deserve transparent standards, assessments, accountability, and data reporting so they can get an honest view of school progress.
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All students, especially low-performing students, deserve well-trained, high-quality educators.
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Strong business–education partnerships must align learning with workforce needs.
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Systems should be designed to focus on outcomes and provide flexibility to spur innovation.
Career-Connected Learning:
Connecting Education and Employment for All Students
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All students should experience career-connected learning aligned with the in-demand knowledge and skills required for our evolving economy, not just students in Career-Technical Education programs.
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Students should have academic and career plans, starting in the middle grades that prepare them for graduation and success in college, career, and life.
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Students should have access to meaningful career advising, career awareness and exploration experiences, and real-world work opportunities.
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Strong business–education partnerships are crucial to enabling career-connected learning.
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The state should connect data systems across state agencies to identify long-term student outcomes, measure return on investment, and guide decision making for students, educators, and policymakers.
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Education and training should be directly relevant to students and their future goals, and students should have the agency and responsibility to guide their own pathway.
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Education and workforce systems should be seamlessly connected to provide clear pathways for students across institutions and government silos.
Higher Education: Promoting Accessibility, Affordability, and Employment Outcomes
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Postsecondary attainment beyond a high school diploma—four-year degrees, two-year degrees, technical training, or apprenticeship—is needed for career success.
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Higher education must be accessible and affordable so students can successfully begin, persist, and complete their studies with minimal debt.
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College Credit Plus must be protected and expanded, with an emphasis on increasing equitable participation for underserved students.
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State funding should reward effectiveness and emphasize student completion and workforce outcomes.
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Postsecondary programs should be nimble and respond quickly to the needs of employers as the economy transforms because of AI and technological advances.
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Students must have access to strong supports that help them persist and graduate.
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Business partnerships should shape higher education programs and provide and work-based learning opportunities for students.
Workforce Development:
Building a Connected, Employer-Centered Learning System for Ongoing Training
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Lifelong learning is essential in the age of artificial intelligence and rapid technological change. Ohio’s systems must make continuous skill development an accessible and expected part of every Ohioan’s journey.
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State and local partners should reconnect all Ohioans to upskilling and advancement opportunities aligned with industry and workforce needs.
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Employer-driven partnerships make learning relevant, affordable, and timely, helping Ohioans gain in-demand skills while strengthening business talent pipelines.
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Ohio must design flexible, inclusive systems for adult learners, addressing barriers through innovative delivery, supportive services, and access to further education and training.
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Ohio’s workforce system must center on worker and employer needs. Programs, eligibility rules, and funding streams should be aligned around outcomes for people and businesses—not institutional processes.
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Public investments should prioritize quality, measurable outcomes. Funding should focus on credentials and programs that lead to wage gains, employment, and career mobility.