Franklin County illustrates Ohio’s typical urban–rural (UR)/suburban (S) divide.

• Columbus City, Whitehall, Groveport Madison, and Hamilton Local enroll ~113,000 students in 2–3★ UR districts with high concentrations of poverty.
• Suburban districts like Dublin, Olentangy, and Worthington enroll ~82,000 students in 4–5★ districts, already near 95% graduation rates.

Ohio must increase graduation rates—especially in UR districts—by:

• Early interventions:literacy, tutoring, attendance support, mental health
• Community connectedness:mentors, continuous family engagement, after-school, work-based learning
• Adjusting the Fair School Funding Plan formula:fund the “economically disadvantaged categorical” so resources actually meet need

Student supports:Early interventions (PreK, K–3 literacy, high-dosage tutoring, attendance support) prevent costly course failures and grade repetition, putting students on track to graduate.

Community connectedness:Mentors and family members provide continuity. After-school programs, mentoring, and internships ensure students are seen, supported, and connected to opportunity. Institutional services without this are less effective.

Additional funding:Adding to the FSFP “economically disadvantaged” component pays for non-instructional supports that wealthier districts cover locally but UR districts cannot.

• Suggested increase:$6,000 per at-risk student(from $0) for school-level supports
• Plus$70,000 per schoolfor a community resource coordinator

For UR districts, closing gaps by raising graduation rates to 95% would:

• Add tens of millions annually in local economic activity
• Avoid incarceration costs tied to literacy gaps by more than $20 million per year in Columbus City Schools alone
• Create a larger, more skilled labor pool to meet employer needs in healthcare, manufacturing, and construction

These benefits ripple beyond Franklin County and strengthen Ohio’s statewide workforce and competitiveness.

The FSFP was designed and passed with bipartisan support. The League of Women Voters Metro Columbus fosters non-partisan collaboration by:

• Bringing together urban, rural, and suburban communities with related challenges
• Partnering across political lines—education is an economic and moral imperative, not a partisan issue
• Working with legislators, school boards, business leaders, and community organizations to ensure dollars flow to proven interventions

When Franklin County UR districts succeed, the entire region prospers—and bipartisan leadership can make that happen.

• Rebase and raisethe FSFP economically disadvantaged weight
• Update to current-year costs, index to inflation, and respond to poverty concentrations
• Permit flexible usefor school–community partnerships
• Fund proven early interventionsat scale
• Guarantee district capacityfor K–3 literacy, attendance, and school-based mental health
• Remove structural barriers:reconsider the district carryover cap, fully fund mandated transportation, avoid regressive taxation methods

School boards and principals can make state resources effective by focusing on:

1. Policy

• Prioritize mentoring, literacy, and community-connected support in strategic plans
• Strengthen accountability for early interventions and graduation-focused initiatives
• Avoid political decision making

2. Resources

• Enable community connectedness through shared local control
• Dedicate categorical support for mentoring and workforce-linked learning
• Restore principals’ discretionary funds for rapid response to student needs
• Emphasize shared local control between boards and principals

3. Partnerships

• Build collaborations with parents, nonprofits, business leaders, and civic groups
• Ensure historically underserved community voices are at the decision-making table

For Franklin County’s UR districts—and across Ohio—graduation rates can rise when early interventions, community connectedness, and adequate FSFP funding formulas align.

Fully funding FSFP’s 'economically disadvantaged' component is the most direct way to deliver these supports. This is not a partisan issue. It is a shared investment in Ohio’s future workforce, economic growth, and the well-being of every community.

Public education is not just another state program. When Ohio fixes public education, it strengthens every major institution — justice, health, workforce, democracy, and equity. This isn’t just about schools; it’s about economic and civic renewal. By fulfilling its constitutional duty to provide a thorough and efficient system of schools, Ohio becomes a state that works better for all its people.

How Fixing Public Education Helps Ohio Work Better

Fixing Institutions:

• Justice: Strong schools lower dropout rates and reduce incarceration. Ohio spends about $30,000 per inmate per year, far more than on prevention. Education reduces future caseloads in courts and corrections.
• Health: Higher educational attainment is linked to longer life expectancy and lower rates of chronic disease. Strong schools lower future Medicaid and public health costs, easing pressure on the state budget.
• Workforce: Employers report thousands of unfilled jobs in manufacturing, health care, and tech. Public education is the most efficient way to align Ohio’s people with workforce needs, boosting economic productivity.
• Democracy: Public schools are where citizens first encounter the government. Well-run schools build civic trust, increase voter participation, and strengthen faith in institutions.
• Equity: Fair funding prevents hidden tax shifts onto local families through levies and ensures a child’s future isn’t determined by their zip code.
• Economic & Civic Renewal: Public education is a preventive investment: it avoids the downstream costs of incarceration, unemployment, and poor health.
• A fully funded Fair School Funding Plan (FSFP) stabilizes local finances and reduces reliance on inequitable property taxes.