"BATTELLE FOR KIDS" SETS AMBITIOUS GOAL FOR OHIO-MOST IMPROVED PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE NATION BY 2006"
Battelle and Ohio Business Roundtable launch $10 million education improvement campaign

Columbus-Battelle and the Ohio Business Roundtable announced today a far-reaching initiative to help create a vastly improved system of public education in Ohio based on the blueprint recently provided by Governor Bob Taft's Commission for Student Success. Known as "Battelle for Kids" and funded through an initial $10 million grant from Battelle, the new organization will be led by the Ohio Business Roundtable and focused on making Ohio's public schools not just good but the best in the nation.

Through "Battelle for Kids," the Ohio business community will be providing a consistent voice and the support to implement and sustain high academic standards, good tests and accountability for results. Initially, the new organization will emphasize translating the recommendations of the Governor's Commission into high-performing schools, ensuring that the Commission's vision is sustained over time and that Ohio educators have the training and tools they need to help every child succeed. "Battelle is very excited to fund and be part of "Battelle for Kids," an innovative education alliance," said Battelle President and CEO Douglas E. Olesen. "This initiative could have an impact on every classroom and every community. Directly helping the student and teacher in the classroom is the most meaningful contribution we can make to assure that our kids succeed. We're proud to join with the Ohio Business Roundtable on this business-driven initiative."

Olesen noted that research by the Rand Corporation has confirmed that those states making the most significant education gains have been guided by a coherent policy agenda for reform-one that persists over time and has the active support of the business community.

With its emphasis on implementing the recommendations of the Governor's Commission for Student Success, "Battelle for Kids" will concentrate its efforts in three areas:

  • Public Awareness, building greater public understanding, involvement and support- particularly among classroom teachers, parents and community leaders-for higher academic standards, good tests and clear accountability.

  • Quality Data, creating a data system which all Ohioans can access on the Internet to measure progress and help drive school accountability and improvement. This new data system will be like a "Consumer Reports" to help educators, parents and policymakers compare and contrast the performance of their local schools.

  • Capacity Building, ensuring that classroom teachers, school principals and other educators receive the innovative professional development they need and are asking for to help every child learn at higher levels.

    "We're very pleased that Battelle has stepped forward to lead a broad-based business effort to help accelerate the pace of education reform here in Ohio," said Richard A. Stoff, President of the Ohio Business Roundtable. "Battelle for Kids" will be the vehicle to mobilize business leaders, working in close partnership with parents and classroom teachers, to keep positive pressure on the system to measure performance and continuously improve. This is about higher achievement for all our kids."

    "Our membership-which includes the leading CEOs in Ohio-is excited about this opportunity and we will work vigorously with Battelle, Governor Taft, the Ohio General Assembly, the State Board of Education, education stakeholders, and others in the business community to make Ohio's public schools the most improved in the nation by 2006, as measured by the National Assessment of Educational Progress," Stoff said.

    "Battelle for Kids" will have 501(c)(3) tax exempt status and be affiliated with the Ohio Business Roundtable.

    Battelle, headquartered in Columbus, focuses on technology development and commercialization, education, and community service. It employs 7,500 people worldwide with 2,000 staff in Columbus. Annual revenues are nearly $1 billion.

    The Ohio Business Roundtable is an independent, nonpartisan organization of the chief executive officers of Ohio's major business enterprises. The Roundtable's mission is to apply the knowledge, experience and insight of its CEO members, working in partnership with public leaders, to solve complex problems affecting Ohio's overall social and economic vitality.

    For more information, please contact Katy Delaney, Media Relations Manager at Battelle at (614) 424-5544 or delaneyk@battelle.org; or Lisa Gray, Director of Policy and Communications for the Ohio Business Roundtable at (614) 469-1044.