Fully Fund Fair School Funding Plan for Appalachian Districts

The Ohio House budget proposal would severely underfund K-12 public schools in Appalachian counties across the state. According to an analysis by the Ohio River Valley Institute, Appalachian school districts stand to lose $565.8 million over the next two years due to the House budget failing to fully implement the Fair School Funding plan passed in 2021. This bipartisan formula was designed to make education funding more equitable, but the proposed budget ignores its final two years of implementation. Many Appalachian communities lack the property tax base to compensate for this significant shortfall in state funding. Schools in these economically disadvantaged areas are already struggling with rising costs and inability to pass local levies. The House budget exacerbates these challenges by expanding school voucher programs that provide no benefit in regions without access to private or charter schools. Underfunding public education will leave countless Ohio students behind, particularly in our most vulnerable communities. I urge you to ensure the state budget fully and properly funds the Fair School Funding plan for all districts, including those in Appalachia. Every child deserves access to a quality public education, regardless of their zip code or economic status. Appalachian students cannot be left behind due to budgetary decisions that undermine their futures and perpetuate cycles of poverty.