New legislation in Ohio supports a transformative approach to getting better outcomes for young people, from cradle to career. Senate Bill 208, recently signed by Governor Mike DeWine, includes legislative language to establish regional, place-based partnerships in eight defined geographies. The regional partnerships language in the SB 208 was originally introduced by State Representatives Andrea White (R-Dayton) and Tom Young (R-Dayton) as HB 312.
Place-based partnerships connect nonprofits, businesses, schools, philanthropy and more, bringing them together to build a stronger future. This work taps into the unique strengths of the community to turn it into a place where everyone can thrive.
The StriveTogether Cradle to Career Network is a national movement of place-based partnerships across nearly 70 communities. These communities share data and insights that can inform policy development and support the implementation of policies proven to put more young people on a path to economic mobility, like SB 208. 
The passage of this legislation marks a significant milestone in advancing cradle-to-career outcomes in Ohio. By formalizing regional partnerships, the state is recognizing the crucial role that place-based partnerships play in aligning education, workforce development and community supports. This bill ensures that these partnerships are not just temporary initiatives but long-term infrastructure to help young people thrive.
Place-based partnerships across Ohio are already making an impact in their communities:
- Learn to Earn Dayton is increasing opportunity from cradle to career, from helping more children start school ready to learn to increasing postsecondary enrollment.
- Summit Education Initiative’s work brings together partners to help more children get ready for kindergarten and have what they need throughout their journeys.
- Toledo Tomorrow leads cross-sector collaboration to increase opportunity, including connecting the business community to Toledo Public Schools to build a stronger workforce and economy.
- Enterprise Muskingum focuses on addressing the social determinants of health, using data to inform decision making and building strong community partnerships.
These place-based partnerships form the Ohio Regional Partnerships Coalition — a statewide collaborative that advances policies that contribute to better outcomes for children and young people. Members of the coalition provided testimony in support of HB 312, joined by StriveTogether Chief Advancement Officer Colin Groth.
The coalition uses data to shape priorities and inform policymakers of ways they can act to support student success. Learn to Earn Dayton leads the statewide coalition. The partnership recently released a new statewide data dashboard that visualizes StriveTogether’s cradle-to-career milestones by school district, county, legislative district and economic development area. These dashboards and forthcoming fiscal mapping tools show the impact that place-based partnerships can have on educational and workforce outcomes, making a strong case for this legislation.
With this legislative victory, Ohio’s coalition is now positioned to expand its impact. The law supports continued collaboration with multiple state agencies, ensuring that future policy efforts — like efforts focused on career-connected learning, student success navigation, the science of reading and mandatory FAFSA completion, with an opt-out provision — have the infrastructure to be successful. SB 208 will help ensure that these policies will be effectively implemented to make an impact in communities.
Ohio’s approach, which brings together cradle-to-career partnerships, state agencies and legislators, strengthens the link between early childhood, K-12, postsecondary, workforce development and community engagement. By fostering collaboration across sectors, place-based partnerships create local solutions tailored to regional needs, ensuring that every child and young adult has the opportunity to succeed.
Ohio joins a movement of states already making investments in place-based partnerships. For example, in Tennessee, the Opportunity Pilot Initiative is creating pathways to prosperity by funding community-driven solutions tailored to local needs. Ohio’s regional partnerships build on this national momentum by aligning educational resources, workforce development and community support to improve economic mobility across the state
Cradle to Career Network members are leading advocacy to share the impact of place-based partnerships. They’re showing how this approach is enabling communities to pursue effective collaboration and make a real impact on outcomes for children and families. Through these kinds of investments, we can put more young people on a path to economic mobility.
