Primer: A Journal of Ideas

Our publication Primer is about ideas — ideas that lead to changes that improve the education system. An electronic journal issued 10 times a year, it brings unconventional and thoughtful ideas to the ongoing public discussion about how we guide our future. Many leading thinkers in education and related fields from across Ohio and on the national stage contribute essays.

Originally published by the New Ohio Institute, a public-policy think tank, Primer was revived in 2006 by KnowledgeWorks Foundation to help once again inject thoughtful insights into education issues. With the launch of Ohio Education Matters, Primer becomes part of our focus on shaping the future of Ohio public education.

Primer has been named a winner of the 2008 Silver Award for Excellence in Communications from the Council on Foundations.

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Ohio’s Promise: The state plan for preparing students for their future

Deborah S. Delisle
Superintendent of Public Instruction, Ohio Department of Education

Education is the primary driver for success in the 21st century and Ohio is fortunate to have a strong system of public education. During the past decade, significant progress has been made. Students have shown strong gains in academic achievement, the quality of educators continues to improve, districts and schools are implementing innovative programs to support students and their families and community partnerships are increasing. Ohio’s ranking in the annual Education Week Quality Counts report also continues to improve. According to the 2010 report, Ohio’s educational system is now fifth in the nation. This is the third straight year Ohio has gained ground in the Quality Counts report. Previously, Ohio ranked seventh in 2008 and sixth in 2009.

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How Early College changed the way I think about the world

By Lauren Merrell
Senior, Toledo Early College High School

It was a day like any other day, in the summer of 2005, when I went out to get the mail for my parents. I was 14 at the time and always wanted to get the mail on the slim chance that there would be something in the old box for me. However, this time there was something in that box, a letter addressed to: "The Parents of Lauren Michelle Merrell." My father was at work and my mother was in the dining room, so I took the letter to her as I was reading it out loud. My hands shook and I screamed out loud as I read the first line of this letter: "Congratulations you have been accepted to Toledo Early College High School..." I practically jumped up and down and I hugged my mom as my eyes began to fill with tears. These tears were not only of joy, but of the hope that I would make it…I would do something with my life that was amazing.

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