Governor Mike DeWine unveiled his first biennial budget proposal today, including a number of important recommendations for K-12 education. “The governor’s budget proposal lives up to its billing,” said Chad L. Aldis, Vice President for Ohio Policy and Advocacy at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. “While we eagerly await the bill language, it certainly appears that Governor DeWine has made good on his promise to invest in all Ohioans.”
Highlights include:
- Providing $550 million over the biennium in additional funding to help schools provide services that benefit students living in poverty
- Creating incentive funding for schools that help high school students earn in-demand industry certificates
- Designating $30 million to support quality charter schools
- Continuing the gradual expansion of the EdChoice Scholarship Program that supports private-school opportunities for low-income students
“It’s too often easy to ignore the most vulnerable Ohioans,” Aldis added. “Governor DeWine has taken the opposite approach by focusing on low-income students needing additional supports and services to reach their potential, families needing high quality education options, and high school students seeking a different success pathway through industry certifications.”
The Fordham Institute will be delving deeper into the governor’s budget proposals in the coming weeks. In-depth analysis and commentary from the Fordham team will be posted on the Ohio Gadfly Daily blog and delivered via our subscription newsletter the Ohio Education Gadfly Biweekly.
