The Jennings Initiative

The Ohio Learning First Alliance, the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation and the Ohio Department of Education announce an important new initiative to enhance district and school-level implementation of Ohio's new academic content standards. The "Jennings Initiative" is a three-year commitment of leading state and professional organizations working with school and community leaders in ten Ohio school districts to build and align the key partnerships of state-school-community-family that are essential for ensuring students' learning success.

The Jennings Initiative is a comprehensive project initiated and housed in the Ohio Department of Education. Funded by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation, the Jennings Initiative will connect a broad array of education resources and stakeholders in aligned partnerships with communities, parents and education leaders in ten "Partner Districts". These partnerships will align with and expand upon the technical assistance offered by the state department to support the successful implementation of Ohio's academic standards.

Funds were granted to the Department in the spring of 2001 to support the four pillars of District Leadership Development, Educational Alignment, Community Partnerships, and Parent Engagement.

The inauguration of the "Jennings Initiative" corresponded with the introduction of new statewide English Language Arts and Mathematics Content Standards. This initiative aligns resources with, support and adds value to districts' instructional plans to achieve these standards.

What is the relationship between OLFA and ODE?
What do Partner Districts get from participation in the Jennings Initiative?
What is expected of Partner Districts?
Jennings Initiative Framework