Lawmakers urged to update data used to fund Ohio schools
COLUMBUS – Backers of public schools want Ohio lawmakers to rework the new state budget bill to use the most current data for determining school funding.
Nearly two years ago, Ohio changed the formula used to decide how much money public schools receive, and to funnel more money to schools in less wealthy districts. Critics pointed out the governor’s new budget uses the new Fair School Funding Plan formula, but with amounts based on data from 2018.
Former Rep. John Patterson, D-Ashtabula, said the Fair School Funding Plan levels the playing field by providing nearly $2 billion in school funding over six years, using a formula which more accurately determines the cost per student.
“And that’s what this school funding plan does,” Patterson explained. “It puts us on a pathway that is justifiable, predictable, sustainable, so that Ohio can educate our students to their fullest potential.”
He is concerned funding based on five-year-old data will mean taxpayers have to pick up more of what should be the state’s share of funding. According to the group All In for Ohio Kids, currently fewer than half of Ohio students go to schools with funding comparable to average national spending. Opponents of the plan said they are concerned about the cost.
Patterson countered if the state wants to see continued manufacturing and technology sector growth, it needs to create a steady supply of skilled young workers.
“If we’re going to supply the labor force for what is coming in terms of manufacturing, and in addition to that, sustain ourselves — agriculture is still our number one industry in Ohio — we need an educated workforce,” Patterson contended.
The Fair School Funding Plan boosts the average cost per student to around $7,000 a year, which is up 20% from 2019.
This article was written by Nadia Ramlagan and was originally published on the Ohio News Connection.