Ohio Expanded Literacy Coaching Across 42 Counties

The Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center increased its ReadOhio coaching staff to support 70 schools.

Updated on Sept. 21, 2026 in Administration

Bold vector editorial illustration of a stack of books and an apple on a desk, representing educational support. — The Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center has expanded its ReadOhio literacy coaching program to reach schools across 42 Ohio counties. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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In mid-August 2026, the Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center expanded its literacy coaching program across 42 Ohio counties. This initiative added 50 new coaches to the state, bringing the total number of personnel to approximately 200.

Why it matters

The program seeks to bolster regional literacy expertise and strengthen instructional support within school districts. By collaborating with implementation teams, these coaches help schools align their teaching methods with the Science of Reading.

The initiative covers 42 counties with 27 coaches assigned to Central Ohio and 26 to the West region. Statewide, the program has reached a total of 200 staff members supporting 70 partner schools.

The players

Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center

This regional agency provides specialized support and professional development services to school districts across Ohio.

ReadOhio

This is a statewide literacy initiative focused on improving reading instruction through evidence-based practices.

The details

New partner schools undergo comprehensive needs assessments and in-person planning sessions to establish priorities. Additionally, the Mid-Ohio ESC leads the ReadOhio Credentialing Network, which hosts monthly training sessions for district-employed literacy coaches.

Literacy coaches began working with partner schools in mid-August 2026.
Coaches and schools established their primary focus areas during the first quarter.

Culture Shift

This program reflects a broader societal shift toward prioritizing evidence-based literacy instruction in public education. The initiative follows a pattern set by the Science of Reading educational framework by embedding specialized support teams directly into local school districts.

For parents and educators, this expansion means that partner schools now have direct access to additional literacy resources and instructional planning sessions. These changes will likely influence daily classroom routines as teachers integrate new coaching strategies into their reading lessons.

The takeaway

The addition of 50 coaches indicates a significant investment in regional literacy infrastructure across the state. Schools participating in the program should prepare for ongoing monthly credentialing sessions that require active collaboration from staff.