Groundwork Ohio Applauds Progress for Children in Governor DeWine’s Final State of the State Address

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For Immediate Release: March 10, 2026

Groundwork Ohio Applauds Progress for Children in Governor DeWine’s Final State of the State Address

March 10, 2026 – Columbus, OH – Today, Governor Mike DeWine delivered his final State of the State address, highlighting progress for Ohio’s youngest children and families.

Among the outcomes highlighted by the Governor were significant improvements in maternal and child well-being:

“Because of our historic investments in moms and babies, last year we reached our lowest infant mortality rate in 20 years.”

“This past fall, kindergarten readiness statewide improved by 8.3%, representing an additional 7,300 kindergartners who entered kindergarten ready to learn.”

Lynanne Gutierrez, President & CEO of Groundwork Ohio, issued the following statement:

“Ohio’s progress shows that when we make bold, data-driven, and sustained investments in young children and families, we can save lives and strengthen the future of our state. We commend Governor DeWine for his steadfast leadership and long-standing commitment to Ohio’s youngest children. Because of that leadership, more babies are reaching their first birthday and thousands more children are arriving at kindergarten ready to learn.

These results show what is possible when Ohio prioritizes the earliest years. As the state looks ahead and prepares for new leadership in 2027, it will be critical to continue building on this momentum so every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential.”

Groundwork Ohio will continue working to elevate the voices of families across the state. On May 27, we will bring 100 families to the Ohio Statehouse to share their experiences raising young children and connect directly with policymakers shaping Ohio’s future.

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About Groundwork Ohio

Groundwork Ohio is a nonpartisan public-policy research and advocacy organization that champions high-quality early learning and healthy development strategies from the prenatal period to age 5, that lay a strong foundation for Ohio kids, families, and communities. We advance quality early childhood systems in Ohio by engaging, educating, and mobilizing diverse stakeholders and strategic partners to promote data driven and evidence-based early childhood policies.