As the biennial state budget is debated, Ohio legislators must prioritize investment in public schools
Updated Fair School Funding formula and limiting use of vouchers is
crucial to the success of Ohio’s 1.6 million students
On March 21 and 22, superintendents from Shaker Heights, Euclid, Warrensville Heights, Parma, Warrensville Heights, Maple Heights, Cuyahoga Heights, Berea, and Garfield Heights Schools, all part of the First Ring Schools Collaborative in Cleveland, Ohio, will be in Columbus, Ohio meeting with various legislators to help spread the news and rally support for the continued fair funding and support of public schools in Ohio and in the 16 school districts that surrounded Cleveland Metropolitan School District.
Public education is not failing, and school vouchers do not lead to improved academic outcomes.
As the Ohio House of Representatives continues its debate over the biennial state budget which includes funding for public schools, the First Ring Schools Collaborative in Cleveland, Ohio urges all legislators to retain and prioritize fully funding the Fair School Funding plan, using the most recent data.
Specific points the First Ring Schools Collaborative is supporting with the Ohio budget process:
- Continue to phase in the Fair School Funding formula.
- Use 2022 (instead of 2018) for the base year for the school funding formula.
- Do NOT expand vouchers anymore.
- For schools that receive vouchers, require them to meet the same accountability measures as traditional public school districts.
- Provide a set amount of funding to improve school safety (NO more competitive grants).
- Continue to increase available funding to support student wellness.
Expanding school vouchers does not make good financial, academic, or accountability sense.
For the past 20 years, the voucher program has expanded from a limited program for students of a particular income level to one that, at 400% of Federal Poverty Level (“FPL”), would include 80% of all students in Ohio at a significant cost This proposal is effectively a tuition subsidy for those that never stepped foot in a public school and are already in a "choice" school.
In an analysis of 2.5 million test scores to compare voucher and public school outcomes, The Cincinnati Enquirer found 88% of Ohio’s public schools outperformed voucher schools. In fact, average student achievement has been increasing for half a century. We have ample empirical evidence to prove that the way to address the poverty achievement gap is by robustly funding public schools to institute best practices: early childhood education; a well-rounded school experience including culture, sports, and the arts; extra-curricular activities that give students a sense of purpose; community-minded and community-building schools; and cooperative learning.
The First Ring Schools Collaborative urges legislators to consider the fair and equitable use of state funds when it comes to EdChoice vouchers. There is often talk of competition being good, but that only works if we are competing on a level playing field. In some school districts, non-public schools are receiving more state funding per student via vouchers than the public school is receiving from the state’s share of student funding. If that scale has tipped, shouldn’t accountability follow? Public schools are accountable to the state, to their community at large, and the families they serve. private schools have the option to accept or not accept students, to reject students who may need additional supports, present disciplinary problems, and/or do not match the private schools’ core values and beliefs. Public schools do not have such choice
Any school receiving significant public dollars should share in the accountability for those dollars.
The First Ring Schools Collaborative urges the state to prioritize the public school funding needed for all children to succeed.
CLICK HERE for the First Ring Advocacy Legislative Priorities 2022-2023