In the 2008 State of the State address, Governor Ted Strickland announced a new initiative called Seniors to Sophomores. The goal, he said, is "to raise the aspirations of all students, to challenge students who might feel disengaged from their high school studies, and to help students who want to accelerate their college education."

Seniors to Sophomores is designed to help fulfill higher education's responsibility to prepare and "pull up" students in high school to help them aspire and be successful in college, while also making a college education significantly more affordable for those who participate.

Seniors to Sophomores is a dual enrollment program, which enables academically qualified high school seniors to earn both high school and college credit at the same time. Students who participate in Seniors toSophomores will be enrolled in college classes on a University System of Ohio campus and will have the opportunity to earn a year's worth of both high school and college credit at no cost to the student. Participating students can avail themselves to on-line college coursework, provided that option is available to regular college students.