Loveland Magazine

LOVELAND MAGAZINE

News and Events from the Loveland, Ohio Area

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Since 2004

Tag: Workforce Transformation

  • Ohio Department of Education and Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation announce Innovative Workforce Incentive Program

    Ohio Department of Education and Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation announce Innovative Workforce Incentive Program

    Columbus, Ohio – The Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation and the Ohio Department of Education today

    $34 Million Available Over Two Years

    announced the list of industry-recognized credentials eligible for $34 million under the new Innovative Workforce Incentive Program. Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio General Assembly developed the program to create more opportunities for students to earn in-demand, industry-recognized credentials.

    The program includes $9 million in the state’s two-year budget for grants to assist school districts, community schools, joint vocational schools, and STEM schools in establishing credential programs to prepare students for careers in priority industry sectors. Schools can begin applying for a share of the funding via the state’s Comprehensive Continuous Improvement Plan grant application process on December 19, 2019.

    School districts are also eligible to receive a share of $25 million over the current state budget to encourage the start of additional credential programs. Under this program, schools can receive $1,250 for each qualifying credential earned by students.

    “When Ohio students graduate high school, they should be college or career ready,” said Governor DeWine. “This program helps schools expand credentialing opportunities and ensures potential employers that students have the skills they need to succeed in high-wage, in-demand fields.”

    Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted

    “We must prepare Ohio’s workforce to earn the skills they need to succeed in an increasingly tech-infused economy, and we need to seize the opportunity to do so before they graduate from high school. Today’s announcement reinforces the administration’s commitment to providing more opportunities for Ohioans to earn in-demand, industry-recognized credentials, offering a pathway to better paying and higher quality career options,” said Lieutenant Governor Jon Husted who serves as Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation.

    Paolo DeMaria, state superintendent of public instruction

    “Today’s students are tomorrow’s workforce,” said Paolo DeMaria, state superintendent of public instruction. “We are committed to supporting students in acquiring relevant, marketable skills that empower them to achieve success in Ohio’s emerging and priority industries. Innovative Workforce Incentive Program Funds will make it possible for schools to develop the programs students need to earn in-demand credentials.”

    The Innovative Workforce Incentive Program aligns with Ohio’s five-year strategic plan for education, Each Child, Our Future. The plan states that each child will see the relevance of his or her learning, be exposed to practical, real-world work settings, and begin defining his or her future during high school.

    Industry-recognized credentials are an innovative approach to ensuring that high school inspires students to identify paths to future success. Such credentials also offer students many ways to demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed for high school graduation and beyond. Credentials also benefit employers by validating the knowledge and skills of potential employees.

    More information about the Innovative Workforce Incentive Program, including the qualifying industry-recognized credentials is available here.

    Find more information on high school industry-recognized credentials here.

  • New options available for Ohio’s High School Equivalence Test

    New options available for Ohio’s High School Equivalence Test

    Ohioans now have three testing options for earning a certificate of high school equivalence. The Ohio Department of Education approved GED, HiSET and TASC as the official testing companies for adult learners to use to earn the certificate of high school equivalence, generally considered to be the equivalent of a high school diploma.

    All previously awarded Ohio High School Equivalence Diplomas still are considered valid.

    “For individuals who haven’t earned a high school diploma, earning the certificate of high school equivalence can be a life-changing event,” said Paolo DeMaria, superintendent of public instruction. “A high school diploma or its equivalent often is a minimum requirement for applying for many jobs or for being promoted. It also is needed to enroll in most colleges and advanced training programs. We are proud to provide more testing choices for individuals seeking better futures.”

    Nearly 11 percent of adults over the age of 18 in Ohio have not completed a high school diploma or an equivalent.

    Many Ohioans require additional learning support prior to taking the tests. The state’s Aspire workforce readiness programs, funded by the Ohio Department of Higher Education, provide free classes for adults desiring to take the equivalence tests. Information about the Aspire programs can be found here or by calling 833-8ASPIRE.

    “Having these high school equivalence options and the free classes offered through the Aspire program can really give those individuals who haven’t earned a high school diploma a jump start on a successful future,” said Ohio Department of Higher Education Chancellor John Carey. “The Aspire classes and the testing options not only put these students on a pathway to continued education, but they also provide motivation by showing them that they have what it takes to succeed.”

    Individuals who are 16 and older who have withdrawn from school (if ages 16-18) and have not previously earned a high school or honors diploma are eligible to take a high school equivalence test. (Students ages 16 or 17 require parental consent.) Students must register online for the test of their choice and submit all required documentation to the Ohio High School Equivalence Office.

    “Ohio’s new options for the high school equivalence test will empower more Ohioans to earn a certificate of high school equivalence,” said Director Ryan Burgess of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation. “Whether their next step is to pursue employment or continuing education, individuals who earn this certificate will be better prepared for success in a rapidly changing economy.”

    All previously awarded Ohio High School Equivalence Diplomas still are considered valid.

    The Ohio High School Equivalence Office at the Department of Education provides guidance and assistance to test takers, preparation centers and testing centers. More information about Ohio High School Equivalence can be found on the Department’s website by clicking here.

    Adult learners also may qualify for Ohio’s Adult Diploma and 22+ Adult High School Diploma programs. More information about these programs can be found by clicking here.