Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has been on the move, stopping in Zanesville and Perrysburg to discuss his executive budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal period. Outlined on Monday, the budget plans include beefed-up support for the state's youth, communities, and labor force. It seems DeWine has a penchant for placing education at the forefront, introducing a grant program to embed driver's education within schools.
Governor DeWine observed the in-school driver's education program during his visit to Zanesville High School, accompanied by the Muskingum Ohio Valley Education Service Center. According to Ohio Governor Mike DeWine's press release, since its inception in October 2022, the program has provided essential training to over 1,800 students. Announced by the Governor, "We must help ensure that as our teenagers get older, they are safe while driving on Ohio’s roads." He pointed out the prohibitive cost of current driver training programs, emphasizing the need to integrate such vital education into high schools.
Meanwhile, in Perrysburg at the YMCA Child Development Center on the Owens Community College campus, DeWine highlighted another integral part of his proposal—access to affordable childcare. Recognizing the pinch for countless working parents, the center reflects a model supported by Ohio's Childcare Choice Voucher Program, which is being pushed further in the Governor's budget.
What's more, to ease the financial load for families, a Child Tax Credit initiative is on the table. DeWine's proposal promises up to $1,000 per year for each child through age six for qualifying working parents. "It is time that we help families lift this burden and create a stronger workforce in Ohio," Ohio Governor Mike DeWine told attendees, as his plan addresses not just the present but the seeds of Ohio’s future—its children. Investments would also flow into new vision services, expanded school-based health centers, and literacy support, mainly through the Science of Reading initiative.
More details can be unearthed on the official Ohio governor's website to dig into the full scope of Governor DeWine's executive budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal years. In true government fashion, the information is laid out with the earnest hope of capturing what lies ahead for Ohioans—young and old, drivers and dreamers, parents and children alike.
