Backpack bill
The hidden role of a religious lobbying group in Ohio’s education ‘backpack bill’
An Ohio bill that would send public education money to private schools if a student chooses to attend one was written with help from religious lobbying group the Center for Christian Virtue and a think tank that promotes charter schools. Ohio House Bill 290 — colloquially referred to as the “Backpack Bill” — would allow […]
Report: Teacher wages flat over last 25 years, adjusted for inflation
As Ohio students head back for a new school year, they go back to teachers whose average pay hasn’t changed much since before high school seniors were born. A study by the national Economic Policy Institute showed average weekly wages for teachers have stayed “relatively flat” since 1996, in data adjusted for inflation. In a […]
‘Backpack bill’ disingenuous play for tax dollars
If there’s one thing Ohio taxpayers hate – other than paying taxes – it’s being ripped off by disingenuous ideologues in the statehouse. You’re not going to like what a pair of legislators are itching to do with your tax money that pays for public schools. They want to divert a ton of it to […]
‘Backpack Bill’ sponsors seek way forward under new funding formula
The sponsors of a bill that would promote the use of private school vouchers and “school choice” came together on Wednesday with a religious lobby group to bring the bill back up. House Bill 290 was originally introduced in May as a “legislative intent” bill aiming to allow students to have the funding they need […]
HB 290: A backpack full of empty promises
By Kathleen Knight Abowitz and Joel Malin, Miami University The Ohio House is presently considering HB 290, with the euphemistic title, “The Backpack Bill,” sponsored by Riordan McClain and Marilyn John with the appeal that it’s “time to fund students, not schools.” HB 290 would allow families “to choose the option for all computed funding […]