Lots to Like in Ohio’s New Curriculum Dashboard

Ohio has just joined a handful of trailblazing states in making local ELA and reading curriculum selections accessible to all, with the launch of a public dashboard that compiles reported core programs for every district. While the Buckeye state had previously published survey results about curriculum use, this is the first dynamic view at the district and school level. 

Ohio’s in-depth look at the materials districts are selecting from the Department’s approved lists includes:  

  • Local data: Which materials are in use in specific school districts, filtered by grade level
  • Implementation status: The current step of material adoption (Adopted, Not Yet Purchased; Purchased, Not Yet Training; Training, Not Yet Implemented; Implemented; or Implemented This Year, Not Next Year)
  • Peer comparisons: Which other districts are using the same materials
  • Statewide trends: A bird’s-eye view of the most-used instructional materials in the state

The sheer size of this effort sets Ohio apart, with 611 public school districts to track and report. Also notable is the inclusion of a guidebook to help users access the information they need most in the tool.

As I discussed in a recent webinar with our friends at CEMD, RAND, and EdTrust-NY, curriculum transparency isn’t just about accountability; it’s about support. When state leaders know which programs are in use, they can track outcomes over time and better support educators with access to the specific resources and training they need. This is one way to help ensure that state-level vetting actually translates into student success. 

Jocelyn Pickford is an education policy and communications specialist focusing on understanding and promoting practitioner-informed public policy across the private, public and non-profit sectors as a Partner with Waypoint Education Partners. She began her career in education as a high school English teacher in a regular and special education inclusion classroom and is now a public school parent and recent member of her local district school board. Previously, Jocelyn led the design, launch and implementation of the Teaching Ambassador Fellowship at the U.S. Department of Education to integrate teachers into the national education policy dialogue.

Jocelyn’s passion for her work was seeded during her own public school education and took root during her classroom teaching experience in Fairfax County, Virginia, where she led action research and presented instructional materials to a variety of audiences. Jocelyn earned her bachelor’s degree from Trinity College (CT), working as a professional writer and editor prior to becoming a teacher, and obtained her master’s in secondary education from George Washington University. Jocelyn lives outside Philadelphia with her husband and two children.