Governor DeWine Visits Marr/Cook Elementary School to Continue OhioSEE Tour and Celebrate Science of Reading Achievement

(GOSHEN, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine visited Marr/Cook Elementary School in Clermont County today for a special event celebrating the school’s exceptional work to help their students see their best and read their best.

Marr/Cook Elementary School earned the 2026 Governor’s Science of Reading Champions Award for their work in literacy education. Additionally, Goshen Local School District opted to participate in the Governor’s new OhioSEE children’s eyesight program, which is bringing crucial vision services directly to the school.

“Today really highlights how the things we are doing for kids really go hand-in-hand,” said Governor DeWine. “We know that for kids to learn their best and perform their best in school, they need to be able to see their best. Ensuring that kids who need eye exams, or glasses, receive that care is critical, and that’s exactly what OhioSEE is doing.”

OhioSEE

The Governor hosted a school assembly to discuss Marr/Cook’s participation in OhioSEE – a new children’s eyesight program serving Ohio’s highest-need counties.

During the event, more than a dozen students received their new, fitted eyeglasses and tried them on for the first time. OhioSEE provides eyeglasses at no cost to the student or family.

“I never get tired of watching faces light up when kids put their new glasses on for the first time,” said Governor DeWine. “OhioSEE is working. We have been to a number of schools already this year, and we hear time and time again how this program is filling a gap – bringing vision services directly to the school so all students who need this care are guaranteed to receive it.”

Goshen Local Schools is one of 228 school districts now enrolled in OhioSEE. The pilot program is available to all school districts in 15 high-need counties where at least 80% of students who are flagged through a school vision screening as needing follow-up vision care do not receive one.

School districts in the pilot program area can select one of two service models that work best for their district:

• A fully equipped mobile vision van that travels to schools on a set schedule, offering convenient on-site vision exams. It also returns to dispense eyeglasses directly to students.
• A “roll-on, roll-off” model that involves a team setting up an exam space within school areas, such as classrooms or libraries – then providing eye exams and dispensing glasses on-site.

“Providing glasses to children who need them removes one barrier to being able to read with their classmates. This is especially important for this age group as reading is essential for their learning,” said Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Dr. Bruce Vanderhoff, MD, MBA. “That’s why we’re very pleased that we already have more than 220 schools enrolled in OhioSEE and we’re encouraging eligible schools to sign up.”

As part of Governor DeWine’s 2026 State of the State address, he urged all superintendents and school leaders in the 15-county pilot area to enroll in OhioSEE. Eligible counties include: Allen, Butler, Clark, Clermont, Cuyahoga, Erie, Franklin, Guernsey, Huron, Jackson, Lorain, Mahoning, Marion, Montgomery, and Ross counties.

School districts can request more information about joining OhioSEE by completing this form on ODH’s OhioSEE webpage. After submitting a request, schools will receive a program packet containing the official enrollment link.

Science of Reading Champions

During his remarks today, Governor DeWine also congratulated Marr/Cook Elementary for their work using the Science of Reading to improve literacy outcomes for their students.

“This morning I visited a second-grade classroom that was using the Science of Reading, and it’s clear these methods work,” said Governor DeWine. “We watched as kids were engaged, enthusiastic, and excited about learning to read. Reading is the key to life, and these students are set up for a bright future.”

With the support of the General Assembly, Ohio schools are now required by law to use the Science of Reading for literacy instruction. However, Marr/Cook Elementary didn’t wait for the Science of Reading to become a requirement before they started using it. They were an early adopter of the Science of Reading and have been using aligned instructional methods over four years.

Last year, Governor DeWine and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce developed the Governor’s Science of Reading Champions Award program to recognize schools that stand out for their use of the Science of Reading to improve student engagement and literacy outcomes.

In the most recent State Report Cards, Marr/Cook Elementary earned 5 stars for overall performance. Meanwhile, Goshen Local School District, as a whole, earned 4.5 stars for overall performance and 4 stars for early literacy, and a high rate of the district’s youngest students tested as having “on track” reading skills for their grade level:

• Kindergarten: 95.7% on track
• 1st grade: 91.0% on track
• 2nd grade: 94.4% on track