Since 1995, we have provided leadership and coordination of statewide adult education activities in collaboration with the state Aspire office at the Ohio Department of Higher Education, local programs, and a network of professional development providers. We use a process of continuous improvement to realign to the state Aspire office strategic goals and priorities, ensuring that activities align with the best interest of Aspire programs and adult learners throughout Ohio. Our associates analyze, design, develop, and implement training programs aligned to academic content, staff, and professional development standards for Ohio Aspire professionals.
Grant Awards
Becky Huang: Supporting Reading Comprehension for English Learners Through Inquiry-Based, Language Focused Instruction $210,890
The researchers will develop a new small-group intervention for English learners (ELs) in grades 3 through 5 who have reading comprehension difficulties. The intervention called the Building Knowledge and Language through Inquiry Framework (KLI), aims to help readers strengthen their language and literacy skills while building new knowledge of interesting topics in the disciplines (science and social studies). The KLI approach aims to build students’ knowledge of both the language and the topic area through direct instruction and through inquiry-based approaches, such as having students engage in conversations about language and the topic area. By addressing both of these areas of knowledge concurrently, KLI will help improve the reading comprehension of upper-elementary ELs.
Scott Graves: Secondary Analyses of Head Start and Early Head Start Data $99,999
This rise in preschool suspensions has had a disproportionate impact on Black children. Data from the U.S. Department of Education indicates that Black children comprise for 18% of preschool enrollment but almost half (48%) of the children suspended more than once. To gain a better understanding of social-emotional intervention in preschool settings that may help suspension issues, the US Department of Health and Human Services commissioned the Head Start CARES study.
This project asks, Are specific social-emotional programs or practices more or less effective for Black children? Is intervention effectiveness in CARES impacted by teacher-child ethnic match? The results will provide knowledge on how to improve the social-emotional functioning of children in preschool settings and provide policy makers with evidence regarding what specific interventions work for Black children.
Gayle Strege: Preparation and packing of historic garments for temporary storage during building renovation $10,000
We requested funds to purchase archival storage materials and commercial grade garment rolling racks in support of packing and moving historic and fragile garments from 1750-1920 as well as a collection of fur garments in The Ohio State University’s Historic Costume & Textiles Collection.
These goals are part of a larger project to pack and move the entire collection of historic clothing and textiles in preparation for a move to an off-site location during building renovation.
David Julian: OHSAI REDI – Phase 2 $35,000
The Ohio Head Start Association, Inc. (OHSAI) is a professional membership organization committed to high quality services for the most vulnerable children and families and fostering positive change in early childhood endeavors at the local, state and national levels.
The Ohio State University’s (OSU) Center on Education and Training for Employment facilitated a planning process that resulted in the identification of strategies intended to yield positive impacts for the Black children, parents/caregivers, and professionals engaged in Ohio’s Head Start system. This plan is designed to support implementation and monitoring of recommended strategies. In this current work, members of the OHSAI will engage in a structured implementation process alongside other representatives of the system from across the state.
Rebecca Parker: FY23 Corrections Consultant Project $104,213
Bridget McHugh: FY 2023 Technical Testing Project $1,403,396
Local, state, and federal mandates require schools to assess their students’ learning. Ohio public schools offer hundreds of Career Technical Education courses that prepare high school students for future careers. Drawing on our expertise with credentialing and other high-stakes occupational assessments, The Center on Education and Training for Employment provides assessments for over 300+ CTE courses to Ohio students.
This includes working with dozens of CTE instructors from all regions of Ohio to create course-specific assessments, delivery of over 350,000 assessments, and maintenance of a customized scoring and reporting system to serve instructors, school administrators, and other stakeholders.
Meredith Wellman: Family Engagement Professional Learning Supports for Ohio’s Model Literacy Sites $100,000
The purpose of the “Family Engagement Professional Learning Supports for Ohio’s Model Literacy Sites” project is to provide Comprehensive Literacy State Development (CLSD) Grantees, and Ohio Department of Education and regional staff who support them, with increased knowledge and resources related to effective, research-based family engagement in education. The Ohio State University will provide a series of professional learning sessions and coaching services. This will ensure that CLSD grantees and staff who support them have a foundational understanding of effective, research-based family engagement, and access to resources they can use to engage families in enhancing student literacy achievement.