Ohio High School Transformation Initiative to Continue Next Phase of Reform in Nine School Districts and 44 High Schools Statewide

CINCINNATI -- KnowledgeWorks Foundation today announced that it has received a $7.4 million investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to strengthen the work of the Ohio High School Transformation Initiative (OHSTI), a statewide effort focused on providing a high-quality high school education for students in some of Ohio’s most underserved communities. 

KnowledgeWorks will continue to partner with nine participating school districts to improve curriculum, instruction, assessment, professional development, and student supports to help schools and students meet challenging performance goals. This three-year investment will build on earlier OHSTI grants which helped transform large urban high schools into academically rigorous small schools, ultimately preparing up to 15,000 students in 44 schools for college and work success.

“We believe OHSTI schools are on the right path toward providing a high-quality academic experience for its students to achieve great success after high school,” said Chad P. Wick, president and CEO of KnowledgeWorks. “We are committed to continuing and strengthening our work to support the transformation of high schools in Ohio that reflect the needs of young people in today’s competitive global economy and we are determined to ensure high achievement for every student in our schools.”

According to KnowledgeWorks, campuses participating in OHSTI graduated students at higher rates than the state averages from 2002 to 2005, the most recent years for which graduation rates are reported. While the state’s average graduation rate increased only two percentage points from 2002 to 2005, OHSTI campuses increased from 64 percent in 2002 to 70 percent in 2005.

This new investment also will allow participating OHSTI districts to build capacity in their central offices to more effectively support school-based reform efforts. Districts accepting the three-year grants are: Canton, Columbus, Cleveland Heights-University Heights, East Cleveland, Lima, Lorain, Toledo, and Youngstown. Cleveland Municipal School District received a one-year grant, and KnowledgeWorks will continue to work closely with district officials to consider further support moving forward.

Despite OHSTI’s progress raising standards and achievement in recent years, there remains work to be done. According to Education Week’s “Diplomas Count” report, one in four Ohio high school students failed to graduate on time in 2004. For African American and Hispanic students, the numbers are even more alarming, with one in two failing to earn a diploma. And even for those who do graduate, a Manhattan Institute study found that just 15 percent of African American students and 13 percent of Hispanic students state-wide graduate college-ready.

As part of this effort, significant professional development opportunities and on-site coaching will be offered during the summer for teachers to help deepen the positive changes already underway. To help more students succeed at OHSTI schools, summer plans include a June 19-22 conference for teachers geared toward raising classroom rigor and improving teaching and learning. Additionally, the College Board convened teachers June 11-15 and June 25-29 to more effectively align English language arts and math curricula to the Ohio Academic Content Standards and the College Board’s Standards for College Success. These measures will help ensure that required courses are suitably rigorous so all students can graduate with a wide range of available options in college or the workplace.

KnowledgeWorks, the Ohio Department of Education, and the Gates Foundation will provide up to $20 million in resources for OHSTI schools and districts through June 2009 to sustain progress toward specific performance targets for students and schools. 

“By setting high expectations and providing strong support for administrators, teachers, and students, the KnowledgeWorks Foundation and its partner districts are succeeding in creating rigorous and innovative high schools,” said Steve Seleznow, program director for education at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “Over time, we hope this emphasis on improved teaching and learning can serve as a model for other districts and states to graduate all students prepared for college and work.”

Nationally, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and its partners are focused on increasing graduation and college readiness rates by supporting the creation of new high-quality high schools and the transformation of existing low-performing high schools into more focused and effective learning environments. To date, the foundation has invested more than $1.7 billion to improve high schools, supporting more than 1,800 schools in 47 states and the District of Columbia.

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KnowledgeWorks Foundation funds, facilitates and empowers communities throughout the nation to improve education. With a focus on transforming the national education landscape based on forecasts of future education needs, the foundation employs education experts and enlists innovative partners to equip the nation to thrive in a global competition for talent and knowledge.