Strickland Celebrates Labor Day, Challenges Blackwell

"This is a day to honor the men and women of Ohio who are working as hard as they know how and still falling behind," Strickland said.
"If Ken Blackwell cares about improving the lives of Ohioans who are working full time and still find themselves living in poverty, he should support increasing the minimum wage in Ohio."

Data released last week by the U.S. Census Bureau and think tank Policy Matters Ohio found the Buckeye State heading in a troubling direction for Ohio's workers and their families. Census figures show Cleveland is the poorest big city in America, with Cincinnati ranking eighth.
While Ohio's gross state product grew 13% in the last eight years and Ohio's productivity growth outpaced the national average, wages stagnated.

And Ohio's economic distress is not limited to urban areas. Nearly 20% of Ohio's rural children are living in poverty, a nearly 6% increase over the last five years.

"Ohio desperately needs an education system that will prepare our young people for the jobs of the future and ensure that college tuition is affordable," Strickland said.

Strickland's Turnaround Ohio plan will invest in our state's economic strengths and take the following steps to improve Ohio's education system, recognizing that the jobs of the future will gravitate toward the most skilled and educated workforces.

Provide access to preschool for every Ohio child, so that they can get a jump on learning, a leading indicator of later academic achievement.
Create a Knowledge Bank, in which the state would provide $500 in a savings account to every child born in Ohio, and contribute $100 every year thereafter, amounting to at least $4,000 when a student is ready to begin college.
More will be contributed for those at or below the poverty level.
Establish tuition predictability by working with institutions of higher education to establish two- and four-year tuition guarantees in exchange for state support.
Improve training so that teachers are qualified in the subjects they teach. Create a more rigorous curriculum so that Ohio students are better prepared with knowledge and skills that will be relevant to them in the working world.

To view Ted Strickland's Turnaround Ohio Plan, go to "Goto the tedstrickland". www.tedstrickland.com/vision