Over the last few years, Ohio policymakers have made expanding and improving career pathways a priority. Included in their efforts are career awareness and exploration funds, which were established in the 2021 state budget to do exactly what their name suggests—support career awareness and exploration opportunities for students. The Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) calculates annual funding amounts for the program based on the K–12 enrollment in traditional districts, charters, STEM schools, and joint vocational school districts. During fiscal year 2024, the state set aside $12.3 million and schools were awarded $7.50 per student.[1] For fiscal year 2025, the state set aside $16.3 million and schools’ per-pupil amount rose to $10.
Governor DeWine clearly recognizes the importance of career exploration and awareness, as his version of the bill requires students’ graduation plans to identify career goals and align students’ high school experiences to them. He also called for schools to report to DEW how they spend their career awareness funds—a welcome move that would improve transparency—and eliminated waivers that exempt districts from providing career-technical education (CTE) to seventh and eighth graders. But these new expectations weren’t accompanied by increased funding. Instead, the executive budget maintained current funding levels at $16.3 million for fiscal years 2026 and 2027.
It’s a tight budget year, so DeWine’s decision made sense, even if it was disappointing for advocates. It was shocking, though, when the House decided to eliminate the funding entirely. The Senate restored some of the dollars in its version, which is good news. But it limited the amount to just $5 million for each fiscal year, a sizable cut relative to current funding levels.
Policymakers will soon have to decide which of these proposals to include in the final budget. They should go with the executive version for three reasons.
First, career awareness and exploration funds are Ohio’s only dedicated state-level investment in general career readiness for all students, from elementary to high school. Over the last few years, policymakers have made significant funding investments in CTE programs that can help students explore and prepare for a variety of careers. But the vast majority of Ohio students don’t participate in CTE programs. During the 2022–23 school year, nearly 137,000 secondary students were CTE participants, meaning they completed at least one CTE course that year. That’s less than a third of Ohio’s total public high school enrollment. Most teenagers depend on their schools to provide exploration opportunities outside of CTE programs like career fairs, field trips, and job shadowing. Without a dedicated funding stream to cover costs, it’s unlikely schools will make providing these opportunities a priority—and students will pay the price.
Second, funding is necessary to implement several budget provisions. Both the executive and Senate versions require students’ graduation plans to identify career goals. All three versions eliminate middle school CTE waivers. If these policies make the final cut, public schools will be required to provide more career exploration, advising, and instruction to students than ever before. Yet both the House and Senate slashed funding that would help schools implement these changes. If lawmakers can’t find the means to raise per-pupil amounts, they should at least follow the governor’s lead and maintain current funding. Otherwise, implementation of new expectations could be ineffective.
Third, bolstering career awareness and readiness is crucial to Ohio’s future. Companies like Intel, Google, and Honda have invested billions in the state’s economy. And a 2024 report found that Ohio can expect a whopping 295,000 additional jobs by 2031. But educators, advocates, and employers are increasingly concerned that students aren’t prepared for these opportunities. In fact, many might not even know they exist, as thousands graduate each year with no idea how to pursue their interests or even what they’re interested in. To fix this problem, students need opportunities to explore careers.
Providing career exploration opportunities will require an investment from the state. Cutting these funds might save money now, but it won’t help students—or Ohio—in the long run. As they finalize the state budget, lawmakers should restore dedicated funding for career awareness and exploration.
[1] DEW is required to prorate the awards if earmarks aren’t sufficient.
