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Broad coalition backs bill to require middle‑school career exploration and create ROI data initiative
Summary
Supporters from nonprofits, community colleges, employers and regional intermediaries told the committee SB 328 mandates structured career exploration by eighth grade, a statewide career‑coaching framework, and an Education & Workforce ROI initiative to link cross‑agency data; witnesses urged phased rollout and sustained funding to implement.
A broad coalition of education, workforce and business groups urged the Senate Education Committee to advance Senate Bill 328, a package that would require structured career exploration for grades 6–8, create a statewide career‑coaching framework with professional standards, and establish an Education and Workforce Return on Investment (ROI) initiative to connect cross‑agency data to graduate outcomes and credential value.
Cassie Palsgrove of OhioExcels said the measure "ensures that every middle school student receives meaningful career exploration by the end of eighth grade" and stressed the bill preserves local flexibility while standardizing expectations. Kevin Duff and other proponents described the ROI initiative as a means to provide taxpayers, families and policymakers clearer, longitudinal evidence on program effectiveness without adding burdensome local reporting.
Multiple regional intermediaries and employers (Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Greater Cleveland Career Consortium, community colleges, Building Bridges to Careers, Ohio Manufacturers Association, the Ohio Business Roundtable and others) described existing local models and urged a phased, well‑resourced rollout. Witnesses emphasized preserving flexibility so schools can adapt implementation to local cues, and they urged the committee to include funding and a reasonable implementation timeline to avoid overburdening districts that lack capacity.
Members asked about who would deliver programming, how the ROI data would be protected and used, and how the state would ensure equity for rural and underresourced districts. Several witnesses said the bill leverages partners and philanthropic support but recommended explicit funding commitments or phased compliance dates to avoid unfunded mandates.
The committee received extensive proponent testimony and written material; no vote occurred at this hearing.
