Education
Undeterred, the class of 2023 looks ahead

Graduating seniors Coral Lopez Jimenez, Meia Stevens and Nicholas Crone, from left. Photos: Courtesy of students
As area graduates toss their caps and look forward to the next chapter of their lives, they're hoping for more normalcy in the years ahead.
Why it matters: The class of 2023 is the first to have had every year of high school impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
OSU backs Statehouse plan for new civics center

Illustration: Megan Robinson/Axios
Ohio State University trustees support creating a new civics education center on campus, a plan pitched by Republican lawmakers as a counterweight to what they say is a left-leaning academic setting.
Why it matters: The recent endorsement could be an olive branch to the GOP-controlled Statehouse, which is also pushing for a broader higher education overhaul that OSU and other universities oppose.
School superintendent turnover surges locally

Illustration: Allie Carl/Axios
A nationwide churn of K-12 superintendents is being felt in Ohio, with three of the state's five largest school districts cementing changes this month due to retirements.
Why it matters: Following years of pandemic disruptions, stable leadership is essential to helping students recover and stay on track.
Ohio State president departs as search continues

Photo: Jo McCulty/Courtesy of Ohio State University
President Kristina M. Johnson will bid Ohio State University farewell alongside graduates at this weekend's commencement.
Driving the news: Johnson's last day, Sunday, ushers in a time of transitional uncertainty as a search continues to find her replacement, —with no interim president appointed yet.
State politics impact students' college choices
Many students are choosing where to attend college based on abortion policies and political leanings, Axios' Jennifer A. Kingson writes.
Why it matters: As Republican officials continue to push for stricter abortion laws and crack down on perceived political biases on college campuses, it could attract more conservative students to Ohio while driving more liberal students away.

Get a free daily digest of the most important news in your backyard with Axios Columbus.