Learn to Earn Dayton Expands Reach to Eight Ohio School Districts with Grant from The BlackRock Foundation

• $1 million grant from The BlackRock Foundation will expand career pathway program from Montgomery County to eight school districts across Ohio, including Columbus City Schools.
• Learn to Earn Dayton's Pathways for Accelerated College and Career Experience (PACCE) helps address the state's workforce needs by preparing more students to earn degrees and certifications for in-demand, high-wage, and high-growth careers.

Dayton, OH - November 21, 2024 - Today, The BlackRock Foundation announced a $1 million philanthropic commitment to Learn to Earn Dayton, a regional educational partnership focused on advancing student outcomes and driving economic mobility for students in Ohio. The funding will expand access to Learn to Earn Dayton's PACCE program to eight school districts, providing middle and high school students with an in-school career navigator to support career pathway opportunities. The initiative will help students gain a better understanding of their own career aptitude and interests, improve access to college credit through dual enrollment courses, and engage with high-quality work-based learning experiences.

The expanded program will serve districts across urban, suburban, and rural communities in southwest and central Ohio: Brookville Local Schools, Columbus City Schools, Jefferson Township Local Schools, Kettering City Schools, Miamisburg City Schools, Trotwood-Madison City Schools, Valley View Local Schools, and Wayne Local Schools.

"Our mission is to ensure more students across Montgomery County have equitable access to the degrees and certifications they need to get high-paying jobs. This program removes the barriers of cost and time, while also providing high school students with the additional support needed to reach their career goals through education," said Learn to Earn Dayton CEO Stacy Schweikhart. "We've been pleased with the initial local success, and we're excited to scale the framework with more districts across the state."

At a time when Ohio's economy is growing - with industries such as healthcare, advanced manufacturing, and computer science offering high-paying jobs - postsecondary enrollment and graduation rates have decreased, creating a demand for credentialed workers. According to the Ohio Bureau of Labor Market Information, 75% of job growth in Ohio will be in occupations requiring at least a postsecondary non-degree credential, and 58% of growth will be in occupations requiring a bachelor's degree or higher.¹

To address this growing gap, Learn to Earn Dayton's PACCE program reaches students who haven't opted for traditional trade school or clear postsecondary paths. With the support of The BlackRock Foundation's grant, an expanded team of career navigators will help guide more students to participate in Ohio's statewide dual enrollment program, College Credit Plus, and assist with the transition from high school to postsecondary training or education, with a particular focus on the high-growth industries in the state.

By equipping students with more education and skills, they will be better positioned for long-term financial success. A recent BlackRock, Inc. survey ² of Ohio registered voters found that more than one-fifth (21%) of respondents do not have any readily available savings.

"Our mission at The BlackRock Foundation is to help more Americans earn, save and invest - earlier, more often and for their futures," said Claire Chamberlain, President of The BlackRock Foundation. "Supporting the next generation of Ohioans to access the economic opportunity in their home state will not only support financial security for individuals and families but will pave the way for a stronger future for Ohio, we are thrilled to be a part of that."

About The BlackRock Foundation

Created in February 2020, The BlackRock Foundation helps people earn, save and invest - earlier, more often and for their financial futures. Since 2019, BlackRock has invested $35M in philanthropic efforts to champion economic mobility by helping people earn more, impacting more than 120,000 people around the world. Over that same time, BlackRock's philanthropic program contributed $31M and created BlackRock's Emergency Savings Initiative focused on helping people build up short-term savings, reaching an estimated 10 million Americans.

About Learn to Earn Dayton

Learn to Earn Dayton is the regional cradle-to-career intermediary organization, leveraging data, policy, and partnerships to improve student outcomes along the educational continuum with the goal of increasing the number of students who earn a college degree or marketable credential. Learn to Earn Dayton serves the community as a convener, collaborator, innovator, and incubator, centering youth voices and driving for solutions that can improve our local communities. More information at learntoearndayton.org.

¹Source: Ohio Department of Higher Education
²The survey provides insights from a research study of 500 registered voters in Ohio. The survey is executed by Public Opinion Strategies, an independent research firm. All interviews were conducted from August 24 through August 27, 2024. The margin of error is +/- 4.38%.