Something unprecedented is happening in Ohio. The state’s economy and workforce needs are surging in what can be described as a growing COVID-endemic economy.

The PAST Foundation Listening Tour was sponsored by Ohio
Department of Education and RemotEDx. The information shared will help in developing
additional resources and strategies for supporting student learning. View the Results of this data here.

The Rural Collaborative to Improve Instruction and Expand Student STEM Opportunities and 21st Century Skills through Literacy Design Collaborative (Rural LDC Project) is a project funded by the Ohio Department of Education, Straight A Fund. The project is designed for implementation in five rural districts that comprise the Rural Collaborative consortia schools, including Northwestern Local Schools, Mapleton Local Schools, Hillsdale Local School District, Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools, and Black River Local Schools.

The Clean Technologies & Sustainable Industries Early College High School Program (Clean Tech ECHS), in partnership with the PAST Foundation Knowledge Capture Program, conducted a survey of Clean Tech alumni to gather data regarding particular aspects of the Clean Tech student experience during enrollment at the ECHS and post graduation as college students or in their current work/job experience. The survey was designed to identify key measures of impact of the ECHS experience for graduates as they pursue post-secondary education goals, explore career options, and continue to develop as young professionals entering STEM fields. This evaluation report integrates quantitative and qualitative data to create a holistic understanding of the Clean Tech post-graduate experience.

The Rural Collaborative to Improve Instruction and Expand Student STEM Opportunities and 21st Century Skills through Literacy Design Collaborative (Rural LDC Project) is a project funded by the Ohio Department of Education, Straight A Fund. The project is designed for implementation in five rural districts that comprise the Rural Collaborative consortia schools, including Northwestern Local Schools, Mapleton Local Schools, Hillsdale Local School District, Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools, and Black River Local Schools. The project duration involves the grant year (2016-17), and five sustaining years (2017-18 through 2021-22). The project is being implemented during the grant year by the Northwestern Local Schools in partnership with Battelle Education (BEd) and High Schools that Work (HSTW). The PAST Foundation Knowledge Capture Program (KC) is evaluating project implementation and project outcomes.

The Rural Collaborative to Improve Instruction and Expand Student STEM Opportunities and 21st Century Skills through Literacy Design Collaborative (Rural LDC Project) is a project funded by the Ohio Department of Education, Straight A Fund. The project is designed for implementation in five rural districts that comprise the Rural Collaborative consortia schools, including Northwestern Local Schools, Mapleton Local Schools, Hillsdale Local School District, Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village Schools, and Black River Local Schools. The project duration involves the grant year (2016-17), and five sustaining years (2017-18 through 2021-22). The project is being implemented during the grant year by the Northwestern Local Schools in partnership with Battelle Education (BEd) and High Schools that Work (HSTW).

The Rural Collaborative to Improve Instruction and Expand Student STEM Opportunities and 21st Century Skills through Literacy Design Collaborative (Rural LDC Project) is a project funded by the Ohio Department of Education Straight A Fund. The project is designed for implementation in five rural districts that comprise the Rural Collaborative consortia schools, including Northwestern Local Schools, Mapleton Local Schools, Hillsdale Local Schools, Loudonville-Perrysville Exempted Village School District, and Black River Local Schools. Beginning in the grant year (2016-17) and continuing through five successive years (2017-18 through 2021-22) this project is being implemented by the Northwestern Local Schools in partnership with Battelle Education (BEd) and High Schools that Work (HSTW). The PAST Foundation Knowledge Capture Program (KC) will conduct the evaluation of project implementation and project outcomes.

In the 2015-16 school year, the Knowledge Capture Program conducted the second parent survey in five Reynoldsburg City Schools (RCS) to explore their perceptions of STEM education in the RCS K-12 STEM schools. The five schools include Herbert Mills STEM Elementary, Summit Road STEM Elementary, STEM Middle@Baldwin Road Junior High, eSTEM Academy, and (HS)2 Academy.

The PAST Innovation Lab’s Professional Development and Knowledge Capture teams worked with the faculty and administration at Clean Technologies Early College High School (Clean Tech) to help design and document the launch of the 9th grade cohort (2014-15) and initiate preliminary planning for the rising 10th grade cohort (2015-16) enrolled in the P-Tech program.

This report includes formative evaluation conducted by the Knowledge Capture team during the second quarter of implementation of the FAST Forward Project. Formative evaluation includes program implementation activities conducted between October 26, 2014 and January 9, 2015. A complete chronology of all FAST project activities coordinated or lead by the Knowledge Capture Program appears in the Appendix and includes dates of evaluation meetings, briefings, as well as participants who engaged in evaluation planning and review.

Fairfield County Advancing Students and Teachers (FAST) Forward is a consortium effort led by the Fairfield County ESC and funded by the Straight A Grant Fund. This is a network centric approach to transform the educational systems in Fairfield County. Multiple service providers will partner with the county and develop plans for transformation across a variety of levels within the existing structures of schools today. The ultimate goal will be to TRANSFORM TEACHING and LEARNING across the 8 districts to increase student engagement, personalize learning, and support college and career ready skills for ALL STUDENTS.

During the 2014-15 academic year, The PAST Foundation Knowledge Capture Program (KC) conducted formative evaluation of the implementation process for eight school districts in Fairfield County participating in the FAST Forward Project during the period beginning August 2014 through June 2015, funded by an Ohio Department of Education Straight A Grant.