Fair School Funding Plan
K-12 advocates react to Ohio Senate’s state budget proposal
Public and private education supporters had a mixed bag of reactions to the state budget proposal released by the Ohio Senate GOP on Tuesday. Public school advocates criticized the bill’s provisions making private school vouchers almost universal at 450% of the federal poverty level, allowing those who may be able to pay for the private […]
What could the education budget look like for the next two years?
Discussions have been ongoing in the Ohio Statehouse regarding the overall state budget, and a subcommittee on education has heard takes from both private and public education advocates on the proposals. But what’s in the proposed education budget for fiscal years 2024 and 2025? The Legislative Service Commission laid out the topics and appropriations in […]
State needs ‘People’s Budget,’ funding child care, public education, policy group says
An Ohio policy think-tank laid out the budget priorities it says would bring about a more equitable Ohio, including a focus on child care and education. The “People’s Budget,” created by Policy Matters Ohio and the Ohio Organizing Collaborative, emphasizes equalized tax codes, more supports for workers and families, along with more consistent funding for […]
Study: Education funding should reflect racial disparities
A national study of education funding found money for low-income students and students of color, including in Ohio, should see significant increases to make up for disparities in their educational experience. The study by the National Education Policy Center looked at funding levels across the country from 2006 to 2018, which suggested “the higher-poverty schools […]
Education officials worry Ohio voucher expansion will come at expense of full public school funding
The education community in Ohio is encouraged by the governor’s support of public school funding, but see red flags when it comes to increased private school vouchers, warning that they hinder Ohio’s Full School Funding Plan. Gov. Mike DeWine’s announced his planned budget asks on Wednesday during his State of the State address, including boosts […]
DeWine prioritizes children, mental health, and attracting business in state of the state
Ohio Gov.Mike DeWine made clear Tuesday that his priorities during this budget cycle center on child literacy, mental health, and spending to bring in big business. In his annual State of the State address to a joint meeting of the General Assembly, DeWine announced big money moves included in his proposed budget, including $2.5 billion […]
Study shows fundamental services funding needed in all types of Ohio schools
Ohio’s implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan for K-12 education has been slower than public school advocates wanted, including studies on the actual cost of educating a child in the state. In an effort to show the state legislature some of the needs of the state education system, two economists focused on the supplemental […]
Education sees some funding boosts, some missed opportunities in 2022
Next year is sure to be a busy one when it comes to education in Ohio, with potential state agency overhauls and funding changes still on the agenda for the state legislature. The end of 2022 was capped by an 11th-hour push and ultimately failure for an attempted overhaul of the Ohio Department of Education […]
EdChoice voucher lawsuit continues fight, dozens of orgs, schools join in support
The fight to keep the state from funding private schools in a system court challengers say creates a “parallel” system of education, in violation of the Ohio Constitution, is ongoing, with more school districts and groups joining in. Earlier this year, the Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding and other education advocates […]
Ohio House considers bill for students to use public school money on private schools
After what sponsors say was a year of work to “find the right approach,” a new version of a bill that would attach school funding to each student was introduced Tuesday in the Ohio House. The Ohio House Finance Committee heard about House Bill 290, which would create an “opt-in” approach to private school scholarship […]
Now is the moment to fully and fairly fund Ohio’s schools
For decades, Ohio’s legislature has spun its wheels trying to “fix” our public schools. They’ve increased standardized testing, based decisions off a school report card system that fails to measure if we are meeting our students’ needs, and finally, when schools or districts fall short on these arbitrary metrics, legislators have harmed them even more […]
Honoring Black history and fighting for the future of education
On Feb. 1, as Black History Month began in Ohio’s classrooms and virtual classrooms, Gov. Mike DeWine unveiled his proposed budget for the next two years, which continues the education funding policies that systematically underfund public schools that educate Black students and even shift some of that funding away toward unaccountable, for-profit private schools. Black […]