Using Venture Capital grants to create a high performance system of teaching and learning in Ohio's schools calls for a coordinated support structure that will build the capacity of the learning community. This community includes students, parents, educators, school board members, legislators, senior citizens and other representatives from throughout the community. To qualify for a grant, schools must document support for their improvement plan from 80 percent or more of their building staff, gain approval to apply by a resolution passed by their board of education and generate community support. After the five-year time frame, schools are expected to have made significant progress in institutionalizing their commitment to professional development and transforming the culture in which school renewal is to be implemented. Several school improvement models are published in the Venture Ohio booklet.
Potential applicants go through a rigorous process.
The applicant must complete a self-appraisal process and build a school profile, which examines data about the present condition of the school. This important process helps to determine the needs of the school and to design the future goals of the school. A written application must be submitted by a school and reviewed by professional educators, and an interview will be conducted by professional educators. Practices and resource leverage Schools which score appropriately will be invited to send a team to an interview to discuss their proposed plans. Written by Jim Ashton .