Ohio Excels

10/07/2026

What if every student graduated with a job offer?

In this clip from our eighth annual Aim Hire Workforce & Education Conference, Baiju Shah, president and CEO of Greater Cleveland Partnership and chair of the Ohio Excels board, challenges Ohio to set that aspiration and work backward.
What career exposure, internship or work-based learning experience will help a student reach that point?

Baiju also explains that employers are ready to help, but they need easier ways to connect with schools and students. Families and communities also need a fuller picture of the opportunities available so young people feel encouraged to explore careers beyond the paths they already know.

He points to the Cleveland Talent Alliance as one example of how shared tools can make internship opportunities more visible and help employers connect with candidates.

Building Ohio’s talent pipeline takes employers, educators, students, families and communities working together.

10/05/2026

Students and families do not experience education, workforce and economic development as three separate systems. They experience one journey.

In this clip from our eighth annual Aim Hire Workforce & Education Conference, Ohio Excels President Lisa Gray explains why better alignment matters. Students can learn about careers earlier, connect what they are learning to their futures and gain real-world experiences that build confidence and skills. Educators become better connected to employers and communities, while employers become active partners in developing talent.

That is why Aim Hire brings leaders together—to connect the dots and make the path from education to opportunity clearer for Ohioans.

10/01/2026

At this week's Aim Hire Workforce and Education Conference, we honored State Senator Andrew Brenner - Ohio 19th Senate District with the Education and Workforce Champion Award.

Thank you, Senator Brenner, for your leadership and commitment to helping Ohio students prepare for what comes next.

09/29/2026

Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Director Steve Dackin just spoke at Aim Hire, where nearly 500 leaders are exploring how education, workforce and economic development can work together to expand opportunities for Ohioans.

09/29/2026

Nearly 500 leaders are at the 8th annual Aim Hire Conference today, exploring how to align the Economic Mobility Engines of Education, Workforce, and Economic Development! Ohio Governor's Office of Workforce Transformation

09/28/2026

The 2027-28 FAFSA is open! Ohio students leave about $137 million in financial aid on the table each year. Let’s help more students complete the FAFSA and put college and career training within reach.

The federal financial aid application for the 2027-28 school year is open in its earliest-ever launch.

09/25/2026

Congratulations to Godman Guild and everyone recognized at Mobility Makers 2026! Ohio Excels applauds Godman Guild’s work to connect central Ohioans with education, job training and opportunities to build successful careers. We’re pleased to celebrate this work and the people helping make it possible.

09/24/2026

What would it take for Ohio to become No. 1 for students?

In a new Ohio Capital Journal column, Ohio Excels President Lisa Gray and Board Chair Baiju Shah explore the connection between Ohio’s business success and student achievement, outlining education goals for 2035 and priorities for our next governor.

They focus on preparing children for kindergarten, improving reading and math, ensuring students attend high-performing schools, connecting students to careers and expanding opportunities to learn directly from employers. The column also discusses businesses’ role in providing internships and apprenticeships, along with public benchmarks to measure progress.

Read the full column:
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/ohio-nation-no-1-business-073059570.html

09/16/2026

Ohio Excels President Lisa Gray was honored to join U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon in Cleveland for a discussion on the Education Freedom Tax Credit and support this work in Ohio. The initiative allows individuals to support tutoring and other educational resources through qualifying donations beginning in 2027. We encourage all Ohioans to take advantage of this opportunity to help Ohio’s kids succeed.

09/15/2026

Ohio’s students are making progress, and our educators deserve credit.

The latest Ohio School Report Cards show gains in reading and math proficiency, including encouraging improvement in third-grade reading.

But we cannot be satisfied when nearly four in 10 students are not proficient in reading, and more than four in 10 are not proficient in math. Chronic absenteeism has declined, but nearly one in four students remains chronically absent.

Ohio Excels will continue working with policymakers, educators and families to build on this progress and help every student leave school ready for college, a career, or military service.

Read our full statement: https://www.ohioexcels.org/post/news-release-business-leaders-applaud-reading-and-math-gains-in-latest-ohio-school-report-cards