Business Advisory Councils
All Ohio school districts and Educational Service Centers need to have a Business Advisory Council. Ohio is proud to be home to over 110 Business Advisory Councils. These locally focused partnerships convene education and business leaders to engage in dialogue, build trust and identify strategies that transform the student learning experience. The on-going, intentional collaboration can result in a more responsive education system based on regional economic drivers and needs, more relevant learning experiences for students that include work-based learning opportunities and enduring partnerships between schools and local industries.
Business Advisory Council Grants
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce is seeking applicants for Business Advisory Council Grants.
These grant funds will support opportunities for career exploration for students through Business Advisory Councils. Applicants will be selected based on existing programming or new programming that support the Quality Practices in the standard of operations of high-quality councils.
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce has prepared the following materials for potential grant applicants:
The 2025 Recipients of the Business Advisory Council Grant:
- Auglaize County ESC
- ESC of Northeast Ohio
- Greater Cincinnati BAC
- Knox County BAC
- Lawrence County ESC
- Mercer County ESC
- Midwest Regional ESC
2025 Business-Education Leader Awards for Excellent Business Advisory Councils
- Building Bridges to Careers**
- Cincinnati Public Schools**
- ESC of Central Ohio
- Goshen Local Schools
- Montgomery County ESC **
- Muskingum Valley ESC
- Noble County BAC
- North Point ESC
- Southwest Regional BAC
**Excellence designation: Excellence in
- Building Partnerships
- Coordinating Career Development Experiences
- Developing Professional Skills for the Future
- Ashtabula County Tech & Career Campus
- Athens-Meigs ESC
- Barberton City Schools
- Columbiana County ESC
- Eastern Ohio ESC
- ESC of the Western Reserve
- Fairfield County ESC
- Greater Cincinnati BAC
- Greenville City Schools
- Hancock County ESC
- Lorain County BAC
- Madison-Champaign County ESC
- Marion Area Workforce Collaborative
- Mentor City Schools
- Mercer County ESC
- Mid-Ohio ESC
- New Lexington City Schools
- Northeast Ohio ESC
- Paulding County ESC
- Piqua City Schools
- Preble County ESC
- Southern Ohio ESC
- Springfield City Schools
- Tri-County ESC
- Van Wert Area BAC
- Vanguard Sentinel Career Center
- Beavercreek City Schools
- Brown County ESC
- Butler Technical Career Center
- ESC of Lake Erie West
- Jefferson County ESC
- Knox County ESC
- Licking Regional BCAC
2024 Business-Education Leader Awards for Excellent Business Advisory Councils
Learn more about the awards and see the 2024 winners here.
Business Advisory Council Townhall
The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, in collaboration with the 2025 All Ohio Conference, will host the third annual Business Advisory Council Townhall on July 21, 2025 at the Hilton Columbus - Easton.
Registration is FREE and open to Councils throughout the state and business partners.
Annual Business Advisory Council Plans
Business Advisory Councils are legislated by Ohio Law to submit annual plans to The Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. All school districts, Educational Service Centers and Joint Vocational School districts representing school districts as Business Advisory Councils are required to submit plans in the Data Collection app through OHID by Sept. 30, 2024.
Resources for Submitting Annual Business Advisory Council Plan and Award Application
Business Advisory Council Open Office Hours
The Office of Graduate Success will be holding open office hours at the following times to provide support and address any questions regarding Business Advisory Councils. Open to all BAC members for technical assistance. Click the date and time below to join the Microsoft Teams meeting.
Annual Business Advisory Council Joint Statements
Business Advisory Councils are legislated by Ohio law to file a Joint Statement by March 1. Statements must be publicly available. The Department created a Joint Statement Template to provide guidance on what should be included.
BAC Strategies That Work! Building Successful Business Advisory Councils: Virtual Event
The Office of Graduate Success and the Ohio Tech Prep Regional Centers brought together education, business and industry partners to explore smart strategies and emerging ideas to build successful Business Advisory Councils That Work!
Find a Local Business Advisory Council!
View annual highlight reports for more information on council activities across the state!
Additional Resources
Contact
CareerConnections@education.ohio.gov for more information.
Last Modified: 3/27/2025 9:54:48 AM