Challenges

Ohio faces a myriad of challenges in educating its children and providing equal opportunity for all students to receive a quality education that prepares them for the jobs of today and tomorrow. If we are to begin to create solutions we need to have a good understanding of the problems. The list below identifies some of the issues our education system is facing.

  • Ohio Ranks 38th out of 50 in the number of residents between the ages of 25-64 with an associate’s degree; 37th out of 50 among those with the same age range with a bachelor’s degree. Source: Ohio Grantmakers Forum 2006
  • Ohio also ranks 40th in the amount of aid we provide to low-income students to support their college dreams. Source: KnowledgeWorks Foundation
  • Only 34% of Ohio’s 4th grades and 36% of 8th graders are proficient in reading. Source: Ohio Grantmakers Forum 2006
  • Only 43% of Ohio 4th graders and 33% of 8th graders are proficient in math. Source: Ohio Grantmakers Forum 2006
  • Large achievement gaps exist between White and African-American students. White 3rd graders outperform their African American counterparts by 29 percentage points in reading and 32 percentage points in math. Similarly, White 8th grade students outperform African-Americans by 31 percentage points in reading and 36 percentage points in math. Source: Ohio Grantmakers Forum 2006
  • College is not affordable in Ohio. It cost 42% of the average family income to pay for one year of college expense at a four year Ohio public university. Source: Ohio Grantmakers Forum 2006
  • Ohio will soon face a teacher shortage. 59% of Ohio teachers are between the ages of 40and 60. Source: Ohio Grantmakers Forum 2006
  • The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that the method by which Ohio funds its public schools is unconstitutional. Source: DeRolph v. State of Ohio
  • The graduation rate in Ohio among all students is 70%. Among African American students it is 39%, the second lowest rate among all 50 states. Source: KnowledgeWorks Foundation/Fast Facts
  • Ohio ranks 39th nationally in the attainment of bachelors degrees and 35th in associate degrees. Source: KnowledgeWorks Foundation
  • Out of every 100 9th graders, only 38 enter college and a mere 17 graduate with a degree. Source: KnowledgeWorks Foundation/Fast Facts
  • The majority, 57 percent, of charter schools remain in academic watch or academic emergency. Source: Ohio Federation of Teachers 2007
  • Ohio Charter schools met only 21 percent of Local Report Card standards. Source: Ohio Federation of Teachers 2007
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