Looking at the Issues Header
February 17, 2017
Did You Know
Free Conference
for Families and Educators
State Support Team 9 is sponsoring the 9th Annual Conference for Families and Educators of Diverse Learners on Saturday, April 8th  from  7:45am-1:00 pm  at R.G. Drage Career Technical Center. A copy of the book In It Together - coauthored by keynote speaker, Dr. Debbie Zacarian - will be given to each participant. There is no fee  to attend but advance registration is required. 
 
Join Our Mailing List
Focus on Problem Based Learning to Build Ohio's Future Workforce

Building Ohio's Future Workforce[1], the recently released report by the Governor's Executive Workforce Board and the Office of Workforce Transition recognizes that it will be a challenge to achieve Ohio's goal for 2025: "65 percent of Ohioans, ages 25-64, will have a degree, certificate or other postsecondary workforce credential of value in the workplace." The report makes several key recommendations including promoting project and workforce-based learning, career advising and counseling, dual credit/College Credit Plus and an opportunity to replicate existing programs with effective, measurable outcomes.
 
The twelve participating districts and three tech centers in the regional Young Entrepreneurs Consortium (YEC)[2] have been successfully  implementing these key strategies since 2014. Serving 26,000 students, YEC links several Stark County school districts, the Canton Regional Chamber of Commerce, Stark Development Board, Kent State University and Stark State College with several other colleges and districts across the state.[3]

Schools in the Consortium have excelled in the area of Problem Based Learning (PBL) giving students opportunities to solve authentic, real-world business problems. Trained through Akron STEM Hub, district lead teachers have, in turn, trained additional teachers. The result is a library of 107 PBL units. Over the grant's first two years, the number of student participations in problem-solving units has reached nearly 8,000.
 
One student's response: "PBL is fun because you get to work with groups, be social, and try what you've learned. It's more hands on and you get to make important decisions."
 
YEC is funded through a $13.6 million Straight A Grant from the Ohio Department of Education to R.G. Drage Career Technical Center and partners with the Stark County Educational Service Center and Stark Education Partnership.


[2] Brown Local, Carrollton, Green-Smithville, Green-Summit, Marietta, Massillon, Mid East, Minterva, Orrville, Osnaburg, R.G. Drage, Rittman, Sandy Valley, Southeast Local, Wayne County Career Center
About the Partnership Long Header
The Stark Education Partnership - a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in Stark County, Ohio -   is a catalyst, engaging and collaborating with education, business, civic and community stakeholders to drive sustainable improvement and innovation to provide all students with education and career success.   

 
Questions or comments? Email septpurses@gmail.com or call 330-452-0829. Visit our website at http://www.edpartner.org