Governor’s Science of Reading Champions

The Governor's Science of Reading Champions, 2026

About the Program

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, in coordination with the Department of Education and Workforce, developed the Governor’s Science of Reading Champion Awards to recognize schools that are demonstrating strong implementation of evidence-based instructional practices aligned to the science of reading and where students are making significant progress. Schools that are selected as awardees will receive a school building banner and may be contacted for a site visit to receive their award and recognition.

2026 Governor's Science of Reading Champions

The 2026 class of awardees includes 109 schools across the state.

Adams County Ohio Valley Local Schools

  • North Adams Elementary School (Seaman, Ohio)
  • Peebles Elementary School (Peebles, Ohio)
  • West Union Elementary School (West Union, Ohio)
Akron Public Schools
  • I Promise School (Akron, Ohio)
  • McEbright Community Learning Center (Akron, Ohio)
  • Voris Community Learning Center (Akron, Ohio)
  • Windemere Community Learning Center (Akron, Ohio)
Amherst Exempted Village Schools
  • Powers Elementary School (Amherst, Ohio)
Austintown Local Schools
  • Austintown Elementary School (Youngstown, Ohio)
Avon Local Schools
  • Avon East Elementary School (Avon, Ohio)
Bellevue City Schools
  • Bellevue Elementary School (Bellevue, Ohio)
Brooklyn City Schools
  • Brooklyn School (Brooklyn, Ohio)
Buckeye Local Schools
  • Buckeye Intermediate School (Medina, Ohio)
  • Buckeye Junior High School (Medina, Ohio)
Buckeye Valley Local Schools
  • Buckeye Valley West Elementary School (Ostrander, Ohio)
Campbell City Schools
  • Campbell Elementary-Middle School (Campbell, Ohio)
  • Memorial High School (Campbell, Ohio)
Canfield Local Schools
  • C. H. Campbell Elementary School (Canfield, Ohio)
  • Hilltop Elementary School (Canfield, Ohio)
Chesapeake Union Exempted Village Schools
  • Chesapeake Elementary School (Chesapeake, Ohio)
Columbia Local Schools
  • Copopa Elementary School (Columbia Station, Ohio)
Crestline Exempted Village Schools
  • Crestline Elementary School (Crestline, Ohio)
Cuyahoga Falls City Schools
  • Gordon DeWitt Elementary School (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio)
  • Richardson Elementary School (Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio)
Dover City Schools
  • Dover Avenue Elementary School (Dover, Ohio)
  • Dover Middle School (Dover, Ohio)
  • East Elementary School (Dover, Ohio)
East Cleveland City Schools
  • Superior School for the Performing Arts (East Cleveland, Ohio)
  • W. H. Kirk Middle School (East Cleveland, Ohio)
East Muskingum Local Schools
  • New Concord Elementary School (New Concord, Ohio)
Fairborn City Schools
  • Fairborn Intermediate School (Fairborn, Ohio)
  • Fairborn Middle School (Fairborn, Ohio)
  • Fairborn Primary School (Fairborn, Ohio)
Fayetteville-Perry Local Schools
  • Fayetteville-Perry Elementary School (Fayetteville, Ohio)
  • Fayetteville-Perry High School (Fayetteville, Ohio)
  • Fayetteville-Perry Middle School (Fayetteville, Ohio)
Forest Hills Local Schools
  • Ayer Elementary School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
  • Mercer Elementary School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
  • Summit Elementary School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Goshen Local Schools
  • Marr Cook Elementary School (Goshen, Ohio)
Greeneview Local Schools
  • Greeneview Elementary School (Jamestown, Ohio)
Greenfield Exempted Village Schools
  • Buckskin Elementary School (South Salem, Ohio)
  • Greenfield Elementary School (Greenfield, Ohio)
  • Rainsboro Elementary School (Greenfield, Ohio)
Hamilton City Schools
  • Fairwood Elementary School (Hamilton, Ohio)
Holy Family School
  • Holy Family School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Huber Heights City Schools
  • Rushmore Elementary School (Huber Heights, Ohio)
  • Wright Brothers Elementary School (Huber Heights, Ohio)
Independence Local Schools
  • Independence Primary School (Independence, Ohio)
Kettering City Schools
  • Beavertown Elementary School (Kettering, Ohio)
  • Indian Riffle Elementary School (Kettering, Ohio)
  • Oakview Elementary School (Kettering, Ohio)
  • Orchard Park Elementary School (Kettering, Ohio)
  • Prass Elementary School (Kettering, Ohio)
Lakota Local Schools
  • Cherokee Elementary School (Liberty Township, Ohio)
  • Creekside Early Childhood School (West Chester, Ohio)
  • Endeavor Elementary School (West Chester, Ohio)
  • Heritage Early Childhood School (Liberty Township, Ohio)
  • Independence Elementary School (Liberty Township, Ohio)
  • Union Elementary School (West Chester, Ohio)
Lancaster City Schools
  • Gorsuch West Elementary School (Lancaster, Ohio)
Liberty Local Schools
  • E. J. Blott Elementary School (Youngstown, Ohio)
  • William S. Guy Middle School (Youngstown, Ohio)
Lincolnview Local Schools
  • Lincolnview Elementary School (Van Wert, Ohio)
Little Miami Local Schools
  • Little Miami Early Childhood Center (Morrow, Ohio)
  • Little Miami Primary School (Maineville, Ohio)
Lynchburg-Clay Local Schools
  • Lynchburg-Clay Elementary School (Lynchburg, Ohio)
Mapleton Local Schools
  • Mapleton Elementary School (Ashland, Ohio)
Mechanicsburg Exempted Village Schools
  • Dohron Wilson Elementary School (Mechanicsburg, Ohio)
Medina City Schools
  • Eliza Northrop Elementary School (Medina, Ohio)
  • Ella Canavan Elementary School (Medina, Ohio)
  • H.G. Blake Elementary School (Medina, Ohio)
  • Ralph E. Waite Elementary School (Medina, Ohio)
  • Sidney Fenn Elementary School (Medina, Ohio)
Midview Local Schools
  • Midview North Elementary School (Grafton, Ohio)
  • Midview West Elementary School (Grafton, Ohio)
Monroeville Local Schools
  • Monroeville Elementary School (Monroeville, Ohio)
Mt. Healthy City Schools
  • Mt. Healthy Early Learning Center (Cincinnati, Ohio)
  • Mt. Healthy North Elementary School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
New London Local Schools
  • New London Elementary School (New London, Ohio)
  • New London Middle School (New London, Ohio)
Newark City Schools
  • Ben Franklin Elementary School (Newark, Ohio)
Niles City Schools
  • Niles Intermediate School (Niles, Ohio)
North Ridgeville City Schools
  • North Ridgeville Early Childhood Learning Community (North Ridgeville, Ohio)
Norton City Schools
  • Norton Elementary School (Norton, Ohio)
  • Norton Primary School (Norton, Ohio)
Ohio Ihsan Academy
  • Ohio Ihsan Academy (Dublin, Ohio)
Olentangy Local Schools
  • Alum Creek Elementary School (Lewis Center, Ohio)
Perry Local Schools
  • Perry Elementary School (Perry, Ohio)
Rittman Exempted Village Schools
  • Rittman Elementary School (Rittman, Ohio)
Sandusky City Schools
  • Sandusky Primary School (Sandusky, Ohio)
Sciotoville Community School
  • Sciotoville Elementary Academy (Portsmouth, Ohio)
Southeast Local Schools
  • Southeast Primary School (Ravenna, Ohio)
Steubenville City Schools
  • East Garfield Elementary (Steubenville, Ohio)
Streetsboro City Schools
  • Streetsboro Elementary School (Streetsboro, Ohio)
Sycamore Community City Schools
  • Symmes Elementary School (Loveland, Ohio)
Tuscarawas Valley Local Schools
  • Tuscarawas Valley Elementary School (Zoarville, Ohio)
Upper Arlington City Schools
  • Barrington Elementary School (Upper Arlington, Ohio)
  • Greensview Elementary School (Upper Arlington, Ohio)
  • Tremont Elementary School (Upper Arlington, Ohio)
  • Wickliffe Elementary School (Upper Arlington, Ohio)
  • Windermere Elementary School (Upper Arlington, Ohio)
Wellington Exempted Village Schools
  • Westwood Elementary School (Wellington, Ohio)
Wellston City Schools
  • Bundy Elementary School (Wellston, Ohio)
West Carrollton City Schools
  • West Carrollton Early Childhood Center (West Carrollton, Ohio)
West Clermont Local Schools
  • Clough Pike Elementary School (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools
  • Edison Elementary School (Willoughby, Ohio)
  • Jefferson Elementary School (Eastlake, Ohio)
Zane Trace Local Schools
  • Zane Trace Elementary School (Chillicothe, Ohio)

2025 Governor's Science of Reading Champions

The inaugural class of awardees included 48 schools. These schools will retain their designation as Science of Reading Champions following the announcement of this year’s new class of champions.

Akron Public Schools
  • Helen Arnold Community Learning Center (Akron, Ohio)
  • Rimer Community Learning Center (Akron, Ohio)
  • Schumacher Community Learning Center (Akron, Ohio)
Ashland City Schools
  • Ashland Middle School, (Ashland, Ohio)
Austintown Local Schools
  • Austintown Elementary School, (Youngstown, Ohio)
Blanchester Local Schools
  • Putman Elementary School (Blanchester, Ohio)
Brunswick City Schools
  • Applewood Elementary School (Brunswick, Ohio) 
  • Brunswick Memorial Elementary School (Brunswick, Ohio)
  • Crestview Elementary School (Brunswick, Ohio)
  • ​Hickory Ridge Elementary School (Brunswick, Ohio)
  • Huntington Elementary School (Brunswick, Ohio)
  • Walter Kidder Elementary School (Brunswick, Ohio)
Buckeye Valley Local Schools
  • Buckeye Valley East Elementary School (Ashley, Ohio)
Cloverleaf Local Schools
  • Cloverleaf Elementary School (Seville, Ohio)
Cuyahoga Heights Local Schools
  • Cuyahoga Heights Elementary School (Cuyahoga Heights, Ohio)
East Muskingum Local Schools 
  • Perry Elementary School (Zanesville, Ohio)
Elyria City Schools
  • Eastern Heights Elementary School (Elyria, Ohio)
  • Ely Elementary School (Elyria, Ohio)
  • Hamilton Elementary School (Elyria, Ohio)
  • Northwood Elementary School (Elyria, Ohio)
  • Westwood Elementary School (Elyria, Ohio)
​ Galion City Schools
  • Primary Elementary School (Galion, Ohio)
Hamilton Local Schools
  • Hamilton Elementary School (Columbus, Ohio)
Heath City Schools
  • Garfield Elementary School (Heath, Ohio)
Huber Heights City Schools
  • Charles Huber Elementary School (Huber Heights, Ohio)
  • Monticello Elementary School (Huber Heights, Ohio)
  • Valley Forge Elementary School (Huber Heights, Ohio
Lakewood City Schools
  • Emerson Elementary School (Lakewood, Ohio)
  • Hayes Elementary School (Lakewood, Ohio)
  • Lincoln Elementary School (Lakewood, Ohio)
  • Roosevelt Elementary School (Lakewood, Ohio)
Milton-Union Exempted Village Schools
  • Milton-Union Elementary School (West Milton, Ohio)
Minster Local Schools
  • Minster Elementary School (Minster, Ohio)
New London Local Schools
  • New London High School (New London, Ohio)
North Ridgeville City Schools
  • Liberty Elementary School (North Ridgeville, Ohio)
Northridge Local Schools
  • Northridge Elementary School (Dayton, Ohio)
Oberlin City Schools
  • Oberlin Elementary School (Oberlin, Ohio)
Orrville City Schools
  • Orrville Elementary School (Orrville, Ohio)
Port Clinton City Schools
  • Bataan Memorial Primary School (Port Clinton, Ohio)
Ravenna City Schools
  • West Main Elementary School (Ravenna, Ohio)
Riverside Local Schools
  • Riverside Elementary School (DeGraff, Ohio)
Sandusky City Schools
  • Sandusky Early Learning Academy (Sandusky, Ohio)
Warrensville Heights City Schools
  • Warrensville Heights Early Learning Center (Warrensville Heights, Ohio)
Washington Court House City Schools
  • Cherry Hill Primary School (Washington Court House, Ohio)
  • Belle Aire Intermediate School (Washington Court House, Ohio)
West Carrollton City Schools
  • Harold Schnell Elementary School (West Carrollton, Ohio)
West Clermont Local Schools
  • Willowville Elementary School (Batavia, Ohio)
Wheelersburg Local Schools
  • Wheelersburg Elementary School (Wheelersburg, Ohio)

2025-2026 Application and Minimum Requirements - CLOSED

PreK-12 schools, including public, community, and chartered nonpublic schools, are eligible to apply, and each school must apply as an individual building. Minimum requirements and the required supporting documentation are outlined in the Application Guidelines and Instructions. Applicants must be able to provide a response for each of the required activities. Schools awarded for the 2024-2025 school year should not reapply, as the recognition continues for the 2025-2026 school year.

Questions

Direct questions to ReadOhio@education.ohio.gov.

Last Modified: 5/11/2026 10:53:20 AM