COLUMBUS, Ohio (AVC News) — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel have announced the launch of a new statewide initiative designed to bring education, workforce and community organizations together to address challenges facing young people.
The Regional Education Partnerships initiative includes 12 designated partnerships across Ohio, with two serving Southeast Ohio: Building Bridges to Careers and Enterprise Muskingum.
The partnerships will bring together local education leaders, employers, workforce organizations and other community partners to identify challenges facing students and coordinate efforts to address them.
The initiative is designed to support young people from early childhood through their education and into the workforce. Areas of focus may include kindergarten readiness, reading proficiency, attendance, high school graduation, postsecondary enrollment, credential attainment and workforce participation.
“Regional Education Partnerships give those local leaders a way to come together, look at what’s working, identify where students are falling behind, and solve problems as a team,” Tressel said.
Each partnership will regularly review local data and establish priorities based on the needs of its region. The partnerships will then develop customized improvement plans with support from state agencies.
The initiative is being led by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Children and Youth and the Ohio Department of Higher Education.
Over the coming months, the partnerships will assess existing regional efforts, establish local priorities and begin implementing their improvement plans.
Last Updated on September 3, 2026 by AVC News
