Fund Ohio public schools equitably and sustainably

The Senate's proposed biennial budget fails to adequately fund Ohio's public schools, particularly in high-poverty urban districts. While most school districts would receive small funding increases under the Senate plan, the majority of the state's eight largest urban districts stand to lose money compared to their current funding levels. Districts like Canton and Youngstown would see significant cuts of $6.6 million and $5.6 million respectively over the next two years. At the same time, the plan boosts funding for private school vouchers by hundreds of millions of dollars. This perpetuates inequality in education funding, disadvantaging districts that serve larger numbers of low-income students and students with disabilities. The Senate plan departs from the state's evidence-based Fair School Funding Plan, which aims to allocate resources based on the true costs of educating all students equitably. Policy experts warn the Senate proposal could shift even more of the funding burden onto local taxpayers during economically challenging times. To uphold Ohio's commitment to providing a thorough and efficient system of public education for all students, the state must fully implement and fund the Fair School Funding Plan as intended. Depriving high-need districts of adequate resources undermines efforts to close achievement gaps and ensure every child has access to a quality education. A strong public education system benefits all Ohioans and should be a top priority in the state budget.