What types of assistance does the OSLN provide?
With over $13 million of cash, plus in-kind support and dedicated human resources, the OSLN offers the following types of assistance to regions and programs across Ohio:
- Funding to STEM schools and programs that are designed to:
- Enhance the region’s STEM access, quality and impact.
- Drive a new business model for a school or program that is shared by a robust base of partners working to find innovative ways to improve teaching and learning.
- Develop lasting committed partnerships among stakeholders in Pre-K-12 education, higher education and business that redefine the relationship between education and economic growth in Ohio.
- Technical assistance in mobilizing and building STEM-education schools and programs that are:
- Aligned to the program design principles embraced by the STEM Subcommittee and more than $12.5 million in state funding contained in Ohio’s biennial budget for STEM schools and Programs of Excellence.
- Working within regions to increase STEM awareness and commitment among critical stakeholders including Pre-K-12 education, higher education, business and civic leaders.
- Expertise with the design of STEM schools and programs that work to achieve regional scalability and impact.
- Assistance in discovering and developing public-private partnerships that engage P-16 education systems and business, strengthening ties between both education and economic development.
And the OSLN assists the State of Ohio in several ways including:
- Launching and connecting the five, PCL-funded regional STEM-based public schools, which target low income and minority students. These regional STEM schools include: Cleveland—scheduled to open in Fall 2008 -- and Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton— scheduled to open in Fall 2009.
- Providing technical assistance to the nine K-8 STEM Programs of Excellence that were awarded grants from the PCL. These schools include: Westlake City School District, New Lebanon Local School District, Fort Recovery Local School District, Cincinnati Public School District, Worthington City School District, Miller City-New Cleveland School District, Columbus City School District, Dayton Public School District and Canton Local School District.
- Assisting the state with the Request for Proposal (RFP) development through the STEM Subcommittee.
- Investing resources in the form of sub-grants to PCL-funded STEM schools to scale up their work.
