OHIO — Gov. Mike DeWine delivered his State of the State address on Wednesday.
"The state of our state is strong," DeWine, R-Ohio, said in his opening remarks. "The state of Ohio is strong."
DeWine began his address touting that Ohio has the highest number of jobs in its history. He mentioned there are 81,000 private sector jobs, with nearly 5.7 million Ohioans employed within the workforce. The governor then pivoted to the future jobs coming into the state.
He mentioned the First Quality Tissue production facility that will open in Defiance County, a new soybean processing plant run by Louis Dreyfus Company, air taxi production by Joby Aviation near Dayton and several other projects coming to Ohio.
DeWine highlighted new developments, such as the Honda's EV battery factory in Fayette County and Anduril's manufacturing facility in central Ohio.
"Fifteen years ago, CNBC ranked Ohio 34th of the best states to conduct business," DeWine said. "But today, we are ranked seventh nationally and first among our neighboring states."
The governor announced that Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel would create a "Ohio's Workforce Playbook," where Tressel will work to identify the job, skill set, education and talent needs for each region of Ohio.
Tressel will work alongside universities, colleges, career tech schools, state agencies and business leaders to develop a strategy to meet the needs of each region. DeWine said the playbook also aims to evaluate how Ohio creates workers to meet those needs retain talent and recruit workers to the Buckeye State.
DeWine also touched on education, with a focus on reading, speaking about Dolly Parton's Imagination Library and the Science of Reading.
"This year’s School Report Cards showed significant improvement in English Language Arts proficiency among elementary students, climbing by 2.2 percentage points among Ohio third graders, 5.2 percentage points among fourth graders, and 3.1 percentage points among fifth graders," DeWine said.
He said the state is helping low-performing schools by placing literacy coaches to support teachers.
DeWine mentioned that 40 schools across the state will soon be recognized through the “Governor’s Science of Reading Recognition Program.” The program will highlight schools aligned with the Science of Reading, where teachers have embraced the training and where reading scores are improving.
The governor also discussed cellphone usage in schools.
"We have heard repeatedly from teachers, principals, school board members, superintendents and parents who say that when cellphones were banned during the school day, the school transformed before their eyes," DeWine said.
The governor also announced health-focused initiatives in schools, including the new “OhioSEE Program" which will ensure Ohio kindergarteners through third graders, including those home-schooled or in private schools, will not only receive vision screening, but also comprehensive eye exams by 11-years-old if a correction is needed. The governor said if the child needs glasses, they will get them.
"We anticipate that through OhioSEE, more than 33,000 children will be served throughout Ohio over the next two years," DeWine said.
In a similar fashion, DeWine announced another program focused on dental care. The “Children’s Dental Services Pilot Program” will begin in nine counties designated as Dental Health Professional Shortage Areas. The counties also lack nonprofit dental facilities to help low-income families.
"We will partner with dental professionals in the community and school districts to deploy dental programs directly into schools, providing screenings, preventative care and treatment to children who need these services the most," the governor said.
DeWine also encouraged superintendents to reach out to the Department of Education and Workforce to set up school-based clinics by partnering with a local health care provider.
There was also a focus on family; DeWine said for every Ohio child under the age of seven, working parents would receive a $1,000 tax credit to ease financial burdens.
The governor discussed road safety, pointing out that lack of access to driving instruction was contributing to vehicle crashes and fatalities.
"Schools are the logical and most accessible places for teens to learn how to drive," DeWine said. "Yet, very few schools currently offer driver’s ed. We are going to change that."
DeWine said all Ohio high schools, with the support of the General Assembly in allocating a permanent revenue stream, will receive funding for driver training.
DeWine placed significant emphasis on education throughout the address. He said it is important to use education to contribute to the state's workforce and shared plans for growth — which included a push in Ohio historical lessons, using reading and writing alongside social studies material and career planning in high schools.
DeWine quoted Tressel, saying, "Our success is measured not just by wins, but by the legacy we leave behind."
"He's so right, and that legacy is the future of our great state. It is our children. It is our grandchildren. It is our great-grandchildren. It is also what we prioritize, the investments we make, and our commitment to each of the young people who are here with us today," DeWine said. "We owe it to them to open all of the awesome possibilities and life-changing opportunities that Ohio has to offer."
