Media coverage will have you believe that the state is “starving” Ohio school districts of money. That is far from the truth, which a proper understanding of the education funding system reveals.
State budget decisions have become a convenient scapegoat for Ohio districts projecting big deficits—especially the recent expansion of EdChoice vouchers. But those arguments are false. Here’s why.
We dig into the findings from the Ohio Pupil Transportation Workgroup. While not perfect, they do include recommendations that would help curtail abuse of the “impractical to transport” language which has long been the bane of families opting for a non-district school choice.
Thousands of Ohio students are M.I.A. from school and losing the opportunity to reach their potential. Nearly 385,000 students—about one in every four—were “chronically absent” in 2024–25, meaning they missed more than 10 percent of the school year. Of these students, 125,000 were absent more than 20 percent of the year, or about two months’ worth of school.
America is deep into a years-long baby bust—with the total fertility rate at below-replacement levels since 2010, and accelerating.
At the May school board meeting, Columbus City Schools’ treasurer Ryan Cook made an impassioned argument that the State of Ohio has “disinvested” in public education.
Twice each year, Ohio school districts must submit medium-term financial forecasts to the state, and the most recent updates released in early March paint a bleak picture.
Interdistrict open enrollment is one of the most important—yet commonly overlooked—forms of school choice in Ohio. Under this longstanding policy, students can attend a nearby district that may be higher-performing or provide programs and courses not offered by their home district.
Dropping a cool billion dollars into Ohio’s school funding formula sounds like a no-brainer, especially if it’s done with no performance expectations on schools. But if we’re going to spend the money, how about using it specifically to drive higher achievement, narrow achievement gaps, and increase students’ post-secondary readiness?
Recent media coverage leaves an impression that Ohio public schools are being shortchanged when it comes to funding. But the sky is not falling and we follow the facts to prove it once again.
A core principle of fair school funding is that dollars should follow students to the schools they attend.
Even though Governor DeWine has put his signature on the biennial state budget bill, the process still isn’t quite over.
Update (7/1/25): Of the items discussed here, Governor DeWine vetoed the nonchartered private school ESA and several property tax proposals.
Over the last few years, Ohio policymakers have made expanding and improving career pathways a priority.
With Ohioans facing sticker shock from tax bills tied to real estate inflation, property tax reform is top of the mind for state lawmakers.
Going into this year’s state budget debates, the biggest question in K–12 education was how lawmakers would handle school funding. Ohio has been implementing the Cupp-Patterson school funding formula since FY22.
Research demonstrates that teachers are the single most important input in public schooling.
NOTES: Today, the Ohio Senate Finance Committee continued hearing testimony on House
A proposal to limit school districts’ carry-over funding would actually incentivize more wasteful spending and impede districts’ ability to manage their finances responsibly. There are better ways to ensure that Ohio taxpayers get their money’s worth.
NOTE: Today, the Ohio Senate Education Committee held its fifth hearing on the education provisions of House Bill 96, Ohio’s biennial operating budget.
Ohio has long struggled to create a student-centered plan for school district funding. The culprit? Guarantees which stop districts from receiving less money even when their enrollment shrinks by hundreds of students. No more excuses; it’s time for them to end.
Ohio is in the thick of another biennial budget season. The governor has rolled out his proposal, the House has passed its version, and now it’s the Senate’s turn to take the wheel.
Facing an out-of-reach price tag and questions from leadership on its sustainability, the Ohio House proposed stopping the Cupp-Patterson funding plan in its tracks, replacing it with a middle ground proposal feature some important pluses and minuses.
With property values soaring throughout Ohio—and property taxes climbing upward—state lawmakers have been giving more time and attention to local tax policy.
Debate on the biennial state budget is in full swing, as Governor DeWine has unveiled his proposals and House lawmakers are now holding committee hearings. Through the amendment process, the chamber is expected to put forward its plan in April and send the legislation over to the Senate.
School funding guarantees have been a much-discussed element of Governor DeWine’s proposed
Note: On Tuesday, March 4, 2025, the Ohio House Education Committee heard public testimony on the education provisions in House Bill 96—the next biennial state budget.
Today, Governor Mike DeWine released his biennial budget proposal, outlining his commitment to Ohio’s students through continued investment in key education areas including statewide literacy improvements, high-quality charter schools, and
Ohio’s push to improve charter school funding has made real progress in recent years. But there are still thousands of charter students who need—and deserve—more support.
The uproar over private school scholarship programs, which support the education of more than 150,000 Ohio students, continues to drone on.
