Throughout 2022-2023, Learn to Earn Dayton engaged in 12 months of deep collaboration with school districts, local colleges, government agencies, neighborhood nonprofits, and families as part of "Accelerate ED," a program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, to help smooth pathways for students to earn college degrees. As that program came to an end, we were thrilled when Learn to Earn Dayton learned we would be the beneficiary of a two-year commitment to put that plan into action for the benefit of Ohio's students.
To pilot the program, L2ED has worked closely with educational leaders from urban, suburban, and rural districts to determine how this national model can best serve Ohio's students. While our focus is on serving our local students, there has been valuable learning provided by national partners across the Accelerate ED community. In early February, teams of K-12, higher education, workforce, and intermediary leaders from dozens of states, regions, and cities gathered to share success, collaborate on common challenges, and learn from experts and one another.