Senate Bill 328 is legislation designed to strengthen career-connected learning and better prepare students for Ohio's workforce needs.
Ohio Farm Bureau recently provided testimony before the Ohio Senate Education Committee in support of Senate Bill 328, legislation designed to strengthen career-connected learning and better prepare students for Ohio’s workforce needs.
“Our organization believes that the better we can prepare our students for the workforce, the better off those students and our state will be in the future,” said Evan Callicoat, Ohio Farm Bureau director of state policy.
Introduced by Sen. Kyle Koehler, SB 328 would ensure students are introduced to career paths earlier in their education while improving data collection and cross-agency collaboration. The bill creates personalized academic and career plans beginning in eighth grade, allowing students and parents to track progress and make informed decisions on future pathways. The strengthened data reporting and agency coordination provided in SB 328 would also help deliver measurable results for the programs and provide accountability for taxpayer investment.
Workforce development is a long-standing priority for Ohio Farm Bureau and the Ohio Farm Bureau Foundation, supporting hands-on education that prioritizes career exploration and workforce readiness within agriculture and other in-demand occupations. Ohio Farm Bureau was also a key member of the Career-Connected Learning Coalition, which devoted extensive discussion and research to developing this legislation.
“While not every student will join the agricultural industry, OFBF believes a robust education system that focuses on career-connected learning allows our students the greatest opportunity to reach their full potential,” Callicoat said.
To learn more about how Ohio Farm Bureau and the foundation are supporting the next generation of leaders, check out the recent Our Ohio magazine covering workforce development.
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