Ohio House Poverty Taskforce Examines Intersection of Health and Education
Yesterday, the House Taskforce on Poverty and Education, created by Speaker Rosenberger and the Majority Caucus and chaired by Representative Cupp (R-Lima), held their second meeting to begin examining issues of poverty and education including the achievement gap. The Health Policy Institute of Ohio (HPIO) presented to the Taskforce on the intersection of health and education and told them that increasing access to early childhood programs would be the best step the state could take to improve health and academic outcomes. Amy Bush Stevens, HPIO's vice president of prevention and public health policy stressed the importance of investing in children early to improve health outcomes and educational attainment. Policy recommendations included evidence-based strategies including increased access to quality early childhood education, full day kindergarten, and home visiting programs that provide mentors to parents. Read the full article from Gongwer News Service here. The meeting was also covered by the Columbus Dispatch. Their story can be found here.
Ohio Business and Military Leaders Warn of STEM Workforce Skills Gap, Urge Greater Access to Pre-K
Yesterday, Ohio business and military leaders released a new report today at the Boonshoft Museum of Discovery detailing how high-quality pre-K is important to developing STEM skills—those essential capabilities in science, technology, engineering, and math demanded in the 21st century workforce. The ReadyNation / Mission: Readiness report, entitled STEM and Early Childhood—When Skills Take Root, also cites projections for STEM workforce growth, as well as the challenges business and the military face in securing the necessary skilled workforce. The business and military leaders called for a greater investment in pre-K, which will have a lasting impact for children, for Ohio, and for the nation. Watch the news clip of the report release event. For more, read the full press release here.
