OH HB312

Creates the Prenatal-to-Five Early Childhood to Post-Secondary Regional Partnerships Program administered by the Department of Education and Workforce in conjunction with the Department of Higher Education to support collaborative regional partnerships across Ohio.

Partnerships may include prenatal-to-five early learning programs, primary and secondary schools, educational service centers, out-of-school time providers, post-secondary institutions, and workforce and community partners working to increase educational attainment and economic mobility.

Departments must distribute grants to qualifying partnerships, convene cohorts quarterly to share best practices, ensure at least one partnership exists in each of JobsOhio's six state regions, and report progress twice yearly to state leaders and annually to the governor and general assembly.

Qualifying partnerships must demonstrate a theory of action addressing the full education and workforce continuum, alignment with business advisory councils and industry sector partnerships, and coordination with local health care systems; must report metrics including kindergarten readiness, graduation rates, post-secondary completion, and employment outcomes.

Appropriates $2,500,000 from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Education and Workforce for fiscal year 2024 to support the program, with unspent funds reappropriated for fiscal year 2025; Department of Children and Youth joins administration beginning January 1, 2025.