| Ohio Public Schools have undergone significant | | | | received $7.4 million to strengthen the OHSTI. |
| changes since 2004 due to the Ohio High School | | | | Here's why. |
| Transformation Initiative (OHSTI). This is a plan | | | | Numerous studies over the past 3 decades have |
| that replaced the Ohio Schools' massive and | | | | found that students in smaller schools exhibit |
| ineffective high schools with almost 60 smaller | | | | better grades, increased college enrollment, better |
| schools. The funding for this effort came from a | | | | attendance, and a better sense of belonging, |
| number of both government and private | | | | safety, and security. All were missing factors for |
| sponsors. | | | | a large number of students in the larger Ohio |
| The Problems with Ohio Schools | | | | Schools. |
| Ohio Schools are not in good shape. According to | | | | The smaller sized Ohio Schools are showing |
| information from one of the supporting partners, | | | | success with the new high school model by doing |
| Knowledge Works, only 32% of graduates from | | | | a number of things differently. Ohio Schools can |
| the Ohio Schools are ready for college after | | | | now focus on individual learning styles and multiple |
| graduation, only 70% graduate, and only 30% will | | | | intelligences; both pedagogical methods proven to |
| receive a bachelor's degree within ten years. In | | | | increase student achievement. Students in small |
| addition, the racial gap is alarming. Only 12% of | | | | Ohio Schools also focus on a specific major, like |
| African-American and Hispanic students are | | | | business or languages, which makes learning more |
| considered college ready. This ranks Ohio Schools | | | | relevant. Finally, students participate in real world |
| as the second lowest in the nation for this | | | | activities that require teamwork and higher level |
| measurement. | | | | thinking skills, rather than the traditional "lecture |
| But the problems within the Ohio Schools don't | | | | and regurgitation" method. |
| stop there. In the large Ohio Schools attendance | | | | Funding for Ohio Schools |
| was poor, high school students were not engaged | | | | Since 2004 the Knowledge Works Foundation, the |
| in learning, and the expectations were low. | | | | Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Ford |
| A Possible Solution for Ohio Schools | | | | Foundation, along with the Ohio and US |
| The OHSTI has been described as "one of the | | | | Departments of Education, and local organizations |
| nation's most aggressive school improvement | | | | have funded 58 small Ohio Schools. The small |
| efforts." It doesn't hurt that the initiative has the | | | | schools are showing improvements. But the nation |
| backing of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. In | | | | will watch Ohio Schools closely to see if funding, |
| fact, the initiative was largely spurred by Bill | | | | improvements, and government support for the |
| Gates' assertion that American schools are in a | | | | program continues. Private funding for public |
| crisis state, and that smaller schools have more | | | | schools has become a national trend that many |
| to offer. In June of 2007 the Ohio Schools | | | | think may be the solution to public school woes. |