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Gov. Mike DeWine pushes expanded reading programs, attendance dashboard and vision pilot for Ohio schools
Summary
In an address to a joint convention, Gov. Mike DeWine outlined a package of education measures — expanding Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, new regional teams to implement the science of reading, added Read Ohio coaches, a pilot vision program and a statewide attendance dashboard — and asked the legislature to back related laws and investments.
Gov. Mike DeWine told a joint convention of the Ohio legislature that the state will scale up early-literacy programs and support schools with implementation teams and coaching to improve reading outcomes.
DeWine said the statewide expansion of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library now reaches "nearly 419,000 Ohio children" in a month and that "over 25,000,000 Imagination Library books have been mailed to Ohio children" since the program began. He said every foster child under age 5 is now automatically enrolled in the program.
Why it matters: DeWine framed early literacy as foundational for later success and said the administration will pair outreach programs with classroom supports to convert investments into measurable gains.
DeWine called the state law requiring the "science of reading" a central achievement, saying an audit shows about two-thirds of teacher-preparation programs are aligned and directing the Department of Education and workforce to create regional implementation teams "made up of trained experts" to help K–12 schools apply the approach in classrooms. "We will deploy those instructional implementation teams into our lowest performing schools," he said.
The governor announced additional practical supports: the state will add 50 Read Ohio coaches in the fall (extending reach to about 70 more schools) and the department will offer free Read Ohio coach training and credentialing to literacy coaches employed by districts so they can train more instructors locally.
DeWine also described a children's vision pilot (referred to as Ohio SEA) to bring mobile vision vans and on-site eye exams to kindergarten–third grade students in 15 counties with the greatest needs. He said the program includes free glasses and fittings at school and cited an example of a student who reported being able to read after receiving glasses.
On chronic absenteeism, DeWine said "one of every four" Ohio schoolchildren was chronically absent and pointed to East Cleveland’s targeted outreach as a model; he asked the Department of Education and workforce to launch a statewide attendance dashboard on April 15 that will publish weekly, school- and district-level attendance data to help communities intervene earlier.
DeWine urged lawmakers to support continued funding for CareerTech expansion and school-based health centers, and to adopt policies that help schools sustain the gains from these programs. "The results are really outstanding and are really promising," he said of the early literacy gains.
The administration did not attach specific budget line items to the new directives in the address; legislative committees will consider those decisions in upcoming budget and policy sessions.
The speech concluded with DeWine urging follow-through from the General Assembly and local school leaders to ensure instructional materials are used and teachers are trained to maintain progress.
