Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, in collaboration with the Ohio Department of Higher Education (ODHE), announced today that the University of Akron, Bowling Green State University, and Miami University will receive a combined $2.5 million to develop and expand Structured Literacy Centers across the state. This funding aims to provide teachers with specialized training in the Science of Reading, building on the Governor's ongoing efforts to implement this method in Ohio classrooms.
Governor DeWine emphasized the importance of this initiative, saying, “We know that the Science of Reading is the best method for teaching students how to read. By supporting Structured Literacy Centers at universities across the state, we will help our future and current teachers master the Science of Reading so they can help every Ohio child become a confident reader and reach their full potential.”
The University of Akron will receive $1 million to expand its Center for Structured Literacy, while Bowling Green State University and Miami University will each be awarded $750,000 to advance their respective programs. ODHE Chancellor Mike Duffey highlighted the commitment of these campuses, stating, “These campuses have committed to be leaders in Structured Literacy. By advancing innovative methods and models, they will play a pivotal role in shaping educational practices throughout the state and delivering impactful results.”
Structured Literacy Centers equip teachers with strategies to systematically build students’ reading skills, from letter recognition to comprehension, and train them to identify and address dyslexia early. These centers also offer research and professional development for current K-12 teachers. Bowling Green's FALCON-SL program will focus on grades 4-8 literacy, while Miami University's MU-LEAD will create professional development materials for school districts and Educator Preparation Programs.
Chancellor Duffey added, “In addition to training Ohio’s future teachers, expanding these Structured Literacy Centers will help K-12 districts become even more strongly aligned with the Science of Reading. By supporting these centers, we hope they become a model for other institutions and states to emulate across the country.” The Science of Reading is now the required literacy teaching method for all public schools in Ohio, thanks to Governor DeWine's efforts and the Ohio General Assembly.