Ohio kids are falling behind in math fast. It is an urgent problem. | Letter

May 10, 2025

"A comprehensive strategy to address the math-education gap must build on progress already being made by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce."

Letters to the Editor

Math success is vital to Ohio’s future

As an excellent Columbus Dispatch series highlights, strong mathematics skills are essential for students’ career success and Ohio’s long-term economic growth. Yet nearly 44% of our students annually — about 59,000 of Ohio’s next-generation workforce — aren’t proficient in foundational math.

That gap is wider for minority and economically disadvantaged students, limiting their access to in-demand careers.

State leaders improved literacy achievement in recent years with investments in the science of reading approach. Ohio Excels, a nonpartisan education-advocacy organization backed by Ohio business leaders, is convinced that math education needs that same urgency, providing educators with the materials, training and support they need.

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