Ohio Allocates $3 Million to Train High School Teachers for College-level Instruction

Columbus, Ohio – Kent State University and the Educational Service Center of Northeast Ohio have received $3 million in funds to develop programs for high school teachers to teach college courses under the College Credit Plus Program.

Ohio’s College Credit Plus program provides free college courses to high school students, including textbooks, tuition, and fees. The classes are demanding, yet students receive both college and high school credit. In addition to Kent State and the ESC of Northeast Ohio in Independence, the other recipients are East Central Ohio ESC in Belmont, Tuscarawas, and Guernsey counties, Montgomery County ESC, and the ESC of Eastern Ohio in Canfield, Mahoning County, according to a statement released Thursday by Gov. Mike DeWine and state education officials.

These five recipients will utilize the cash to cover tuition, textbooks, and other materials for teachers in diverse districts who are working to become credentialed to teach College Credit Plus courses in high schools. “Teachers play a critical role in shaping the future of Ohio’s students,” Gov. Mike DeWine said in a prepared statement. “These grants will empower our dedicated educators to expand their expertise and provide exceptional learning opportunities that will prepare students for success.”

The ultimate goal for state educators is to encourage more kids to take the courses, which will save them and their families money in the long term.

“These grants will provide more opportunities for educators to get the knowledge, skills, and experience to teach higher-level courses that will foster a seamless transition from high school to college,” said Stephen Dackin, director of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. ”

The College Credit Plus program is the gateway to a postsecondary degree for thousands of students, and increasing the number of credentialed teachers will allow even more families to save on college tuition and prepare their students for a successful future,” Mike Duffey, president of the Ohio Department of Higher Education, said