Charge

The School Readiness Solutions Group has been directed to provide the State Board of Education, Governor and members of the Ohio General Assembly with recommendations for policy changes and action in both the public and private sectors. The State Board specifically charged it with addressing four questions:

What is required to build a high-quality, results-driven early learning system that promotes child development and learning, reverses underachievement in schools and closes the achievement gap separating students by race, ethnicity, income and geography?

What is necessary to ensure the availability of high-quality early learning opportunities to all families who want it for their children?

What family and community supports must be in place to make sure that parents, as well as the important people and community organizations in every child’s life, have the knowledge, opportunities and incentives to support children’s growth and development?

What strategic investments are necessary to ensure that financial resources are in place to support universal school readiness for all Ohio children from birth though Kindergarten?

At the conclusion of its work in June 2006, the School Readiness Solutions Group will make recommendations for the design of a high-quality early learning system. These recommendations will be intended to inform state policy decisions in a way that (a) raises expectations for the early development of social, emotional and intellectual skills; (b) builds the capacity of the state and its communities to give all children a strong start in life; and (c) focuses the energies of parents, families, schools and other providers, employers, public officials and a wide range of community-based organizations on the job of ensuring that every child has access to high-quality early learning opportunities.