State Funds Lorain County RSG Pilot in New Budget

In an amendment sponsored by State Senator Gayle Manning to Ohio’s new two year budget, the Ready Set Go to Kindergarten (RSG) program will receive $50,000 each year to support a pilot.

The RSG Pilot will provide data and a road map for community based early childhood initiatives improving kindergarten readiness. RSG is focus on geographical areas where low-income children are statistically at risk. Elyria City Schools Superintendent Paul Rigda commissioned the

Horizon Education Centers to create RSG. Currently RSG is partnered with the Elyria City School and is supporting 16 preschool centers with evaluation, quality improvement, marketing and professional development.

According to Dave Smith, Horizon Executive Director, ”The RSG program has already helped almost 700 at-risk preschoolers and with these funds we will be able to provide more direct support to children during the pilot. Armed with more data and success from the pilot, we hope to expand RSG to other high-risk school districts”.

State Senator Manning’s amendment was backed on the House of Representatives side by State Representatives Terry Boose and Nan Baker. Special thanks to these legislators. Also, thanks to the Horizon Board of Trustees, who attended legislative visits and helped educate our elected officials on this project.