By Okon Ekpenyong

The Ohio Imagination Library has provided over 400,000 Ohioans free books, leading the nation in this effort said Ohio Governor Mike DeWine at the 2024 Ohio Department of Higher Education Board of Trustees Conference.

“We have dedicated significant time and resources to revamp early education and first-grade learning through the science of reading. This includes phonics and teaching children to sound out words. Our goal is to incorporate various methods to improve education.”

Citing an example, Governor DeWine said “Mississippi has significantly improved its national ranking, moving from 49th to 29th, by implementing the science of reading. This approach, which has been in use for a long time, has proven particularly beneficial for states like Mississippi with high poverty rates.

“The science of reading has substantially enhanced reading proficiency in the state. However, poverty can influence the rankings, even here in Ohio. Therefore, newly appointed officials should work together to understand these barriers, such as financial difficulties for students or mental health. This is what more colleges and universities need to delve into.”

“We understand that the system is practical and relevant to you because universities need to adapt. If a school in Ohio implements these changes in the next few years, we expect to see a significant shift in student graduation rates, retention, and post-college job placement.

Governor DeWine stresses the importance of colleges and universities guiding students who may need a clear career path. Drawing from his own experience, he mentioned that despite initially wanting to teach Social Studies in primary and secondary schools, he now addresses citizens as a governor.

Governor DeWine who advised for initially assisting students interested in career technical courses or programs added that “upon completion, opportunities for advancement in these fields may inspire them to pursue further education, starting at a community college and then transferring to a four-year institution.”

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