Ohio Department of Education and Workforce

Five Ohio school bus drivers are getting set to showcase their skills this weekend. The International School Bus Safety Competition begins tomorrow in Austin, Texas, bringing together drivers from the U.S. and Canada. The school bus drivers from Ohio will be among a select group of only 93 drivers who qualified to compete through precision driving and maneuvering skills, and the highest levels of knowledge, safety, and professionalism.

Congratulations and good luck to these school bus drivers from Ohio!
🔹 Kevin Ball, Olentangy Schools
🔹 Debbie Becker, Orange City School District
🔹 Noah Clark, Olentangy Schools
🔹 Matt Hull, Petermann Bus/Lakota Schools
🔹 Jered Winnestaffer, Community Bus Services/Groveport Madison Schools

📸 via Ohio School Bus Safety Road E-O, Central Region

POV: Meeting the mascots between breakout sessions

The Stay in the Game! Attendance Network hosted the Attend Ohio conference to reduce chronic absence and support efforts to keep students present, engaged, and on track for success. The day focused on team-based approaches to improving student attendance, mental health supports, and efforts to elevate student voice in family outreach and attendance plans.

📸 via Stay in the Game Attendance Network

Help shape the redesign of education.ohio.gov! You’re invited to participate in upcoming online research sessions to provide feedback that will enhance our website. We're excited to hear from you!
⇨ https://forms.cloud.microsoft/g/A4WWyTnemS

On July 8, communities across Ohio will gather to read the Declaration of Independence together, honoring the first public reading of the document in 1776 and celebrating America’s 250th anniversary.

Learn more from America 250-Ohio: https://america250-ohio.org/declaration-of-independence-community-reading/

☀️ FREE summer meals! We’re sponsoring SUN Meals, a summer food program where children eat free and no sign-up is needed.

Visit https://education.ohio.gov/KidsEat for participating program sites.

Hello, summer! Here are ideas for your next great summer adventure in Ohio, The Heart of it All.
⇨ https://ohio.org/travel-inspiration/articles/100-things-to-do-in-ohio-this-summer

📸 via Ohio, The Heart of it All | Pictured, clockwise from top: Columbus Zoo and Aquarium in Powell (Photo credit: Visit Dublin); Eco-Discovery Center at Salt Fork State Park in Cambridge; Serpent Mound in Peebles; "The Helmet" in Wapakoneta.

Today, we celebrate Juneteenth, the oldest known celebration commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.

Reducing statewide chronic absence calls for strong partnerships between schools, families, and communities. Strategies to support this work were central at the Attend Ohio conference, hosted by the Stay in the Game Attendance Network. Sessions covered team-based approaches to improving student attendance, mental health supports, and efforts to elevate student voice in family outreach and attendance plans.

Director Stephen Dackin spoke at the conference and encouraged participants to strive for improvement through collaboration, data, and other resources. Ohio’s Attendance Dashboard is among the tools available to help communities understand attendance trends and support efforts to keep students present, engaged, and on track for success. Learn more about this work: https://attendance.ohio.gov

At this year's ReadOhio Literacy Academy, we strengthened parent-school connections, elevated teacher leadership conversations, and furthered the essential work to align materials and instruction to the Science of Reading. Thank you to Governor Mike DeWine for championing reading achievement to ensure students are prepared for success along every step of their lifelong learning journeys.