Clone of Analysis of Metro Columbus Public Education

Clone of Analysis of Metro Columbus Public Education

Navigating a Future Together


Navigating a Future Together

Goal 1: Reduce incarceration through early intervention

Why it matters:Ohio spends up to $200,000 per youth annually in incarceration costs, compared to $12,000–$17,000 per student in school. Literacy gaps alone cost Columbus taxpayers $22 million each year.

Actions:
  • Fully fund FSFP’s non-instructional supports (tutors, mentoring, mental health).
  • Expand early childhood and K–3 literacy programs.
  • Scale community-based alternatives to incarceration.

Goal 2: Increase graduation rates and lifetime earnings

Why it matters:Students who can’t read by 3rd grade are 4× more likely to drop out. Dropouts earn $9,600 less annually and are overrepresented in prisons.

Actions:
  • Use FSFP funding to ensure equitable instruction and mentoring.
  • Target support in 2–3 star districts to raise graduation rates to 95%.
  • Empower school boards to tailor interventions locally.

Goal 3: Build a fair and sustainable funding system

Why it matters:Ohio schools face a $2.7B shortfall. Underfunding FSFP forces reliance on local levies and sales taxes that hit low-income families hardest.

Actions:
  • Complete the six-year FSFP rollout for stability.
  • Rely on state-level revenue, not regressive property taxes.
  • Ensure accountability so dollars fund effective programs.

Goal 4: Ensure public funds strengthen public schools

Why it matters:Ohio spent $676M on vouchers in 2024 — much for students already in private schools. This drains funds from interventions proven to keep students on track.

Actions:
  • Prioritize FSFP funding over voucher expansion.
  • Require accountability for all state-funded schools.
  • Protect local control for community-driven solutions.

Shared Vision

By choosing early intervention and fully funding FSFP, Ohio can save millions in incarceration costs, graduate more students into higher-earning careers, reduce reliance on regressive taxes, and build a just, thriving economy where every child has the chance to succeed.

Together, we can invest in prevention, not punishment — building stronger schools, safer communities, and a brighter future for Ohio.

Advocacy Call

  • Fund what the student needsto enter the workforce, consider inflation, and lower reliance on property taxes by fully restoring and funding the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan (FSFP).
  • Direct adequate funds birth-to-12for early non-instructional support that lowers later academic struggles, with specific investment in early mentoring programs in cooperation with the community.
  • Reject capson district carryover balances and other regressive taxation measures.
  • End EdChoice expansionbeyond need-based eligibility.
  • Apply equal accountabilityrequirements to all schools (public or private) receiving state funds, including testing and attendance.

Here’s the **minified HTML** for the fishbone diagram from your file:

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Metro Columbus – Early Literacy, Graduation, and Economic Impact


Metro Columbus — Early Literacy → Graduation → Economic Impact


Linking Causes to Economic Outcomes


K–3 Literacy & Early InterventionDistrict EnvironmentGraduation OutcomesAvoided CostsEconomic Outputs
OutcomeHigher earnings$6,230,250,000Higher tax revenue$1,661,400,000Lower public costs$2,076,750,000K–3 Literacy & EIEarly Intervention (0–8)K–3 Reading SupportFamily WraparoundDistrict EnvironmentPoverty & MobilityAttendance & AbsenceGraduationHigher Grad RatesMore HS CompletersAvoided CostsLess Juvenile IncarcerationLower Remediation Costs

Cumulative figures reflect thecombined annual cohortsacross 2–3★ and 4–5★ districts (13,845 graduates). Assumed per-graduate lifetime components:$450kearnings,$120ktaxes,$150kpublic-cost savings.


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Do you want me to also **add click-and-copy functionality** so that users can copy the fishbone values quickly? That could make it more interactive for presentations or reports.

Claims vs. Reality – FSFP & Ohio K–12 (LWV Style)


Claims vs. Reality – Fair School Funding Plan (FSFP), Vouchers, and Tax Policy in Ohio

League of Women Voters style • Updated Aug 17, 2025

Purpose:Provide clear, non-partisan comparisons you can use in testimony, LTEs, and community briefings. Where exact figures vary year-to-year, we give ranges and plain-language math you can verify with ODEW/LSC/NCES and recent budget documents.

Claim 1: “The state is supporting FSFP — using 2023 costs.”
Reality
  • Using a2023 base-year costin 2025–27 ignores compounding inflation (wages, transportation, special education, utilities). Even at 3–4%/yr, that’s ~6–8%higher costs than a 2023 base.
  • Underfunding forces districts to raiselocal leviesand rely onsales taxes—costs that land inrentand at thecheckout counter, hitting low-income families hardest.
  • Unequal yield:If District A has $600k taxable value per pupil and District B has $150k, the same5 millsyields4×more per student in A than B.
Back-of-envelope:Ohio taxes 35% of market value. A5‑milllevy on a $100,000 home ≈ $100,000 × 35% × 0.005 =$175/yr— commonly passed intorent.
Claim 2: “We can’t afford FSFP.”
Reality
  • The **FSFP gap** is about$2.5B— a small share of the overall state budget.
  • Ohio’sRainy Day Fund(~$3.8B) could bridge a phase‑in while sustainable revenue is set.
  • Meanwhile, the state is expandingvoucher subsidiesand bearinghigh incarceration costs(≈$180k–$200k per youth/yr).
Claim 3: “Vouchers help low-income families in failing schools.”
Reality
  • In 2023–24, Ohio spent$400M+onEdChoice Expansionwithnear-universaleligibility via a sliding scholarship.
  • Best tallies:<20%of voucher recipients are low‑income; roughly~80%were already able to pay or were already in private schools.
  • Public funds oftensubstitutefor private spending rather than expand access for the poorest families.
Claim 4: “Parental choice expands opportunity.”
Reality
  • About78%of Ohio’s ~1.5–1.6Mstudents attend public district schools; many rural counties haveno nearby private/charter capacity.
  • Some higher‑wealth districts limitopen enrollment; vouchers then drain funds from districts with few alternatives, shrinking opportunity where it’s already thin.
Claim 5: “State support for education is stable.”
Reality
  • Repeated income‑tax cuts and aflatter rate structurereduce progressive state revenue andshift coststopropertyandsales taxes(regressive).
  • Over time, thelocal shareof K–12 has grown relative to thestate share, widening gaps.
Claim 6: “The system is accountable to communities.”
Reality
  • Shifting authority from an elected board toward appointed leadership reducesdirect voter accountabilityandpublic touchpoints.
  • Voucher‑receiving private schools generally lackequivalent transparency/report‑cardrequirements (open meetings, full fiscal detail), weakening oversight.
Claim 7: “There’s no money for full funding.”
Reality
  • Lawmakers have weighed a~$600M stadium subsidy(e.g., Browns) while asking schools to tighten belts.
  • Stadium jobs are typicallypart‑time, seasonal, low‑wagewith limited long‑term returns compared to education investment.
Claim 8: “School choice drives improvement.”
Reality
  • Evidence ismixed; statewide gains are not broad‑based.
  • If public funds follow students to private schools,minimum accountabilityshould follow (state standards, transparent outcomes, fiscal audits) to avoid weakening the public system.
Claim 9: “Federal funds can fill the gap.”
Reality
  • Federal dollars are typically<10%of K–12 revenue in Ohio.
  • COVID‑era ESSER support hasexpired; there isno ongoingfederal replacement.
Claim 10: “Flat taxes are fair because everyone pays the same rate.”
Reality
  • Flatter income taxes reduceprogressivity; higher earners retain a larger share of tax cuts.
  • Shortfalls reappear inproperty taxes(passed intorent) andsales taxes(often~7–8%combined), which take alarger shareof low incomes.
Claim 11: “Local control—just pass a levy.”
Reality
  • Same millage ≠ same dollars:lower taxable value per pupil means far less yield in low‑wealth areas.
  • HB 920reduces effective rates as values rise, forcing repeated levy cycles just to keep up—especially hard for low‑wealth communities.
Claim 12: “Early intervention is nice-to-have; we can’t afford it.”
Reality
  • Evidence‑based interventions cost atiny fractionof incarceration and reduce reoffending.
Cost comparison (per youth):
DYS incarceration:$180k–$200k/yr· MST:$7k–$10k(−20–45% recidivism) · FFT:$2k–$4.5k(−15–35%) · High‑dosage tutoring:$1.5k–$3k· School mental health:$1k–$2k· Attendance mentoring:$1k–$1.5k· High‑quality Pre‑K:positive ROI (≈2–7×)
Claim 13: “Replace elected boards with political appointees for better accountability.”
Reality
  • Appointees answer to the appointing authority;voters cannot removethem directly.
  • Consolidation at the state level reducespublic input(open meetings, local comment) and riskspolicy whiplashwith each administration.
  • Voucher‑funded private schools are not held toequivalent transparency/standardsas public schools.
Funding at a glance:Total Ohio K–12 (all sources) ≈$24–$25B/yr. Per‑pupil ≈$14.5k–$15.5k. Enrollment ≈1.5–1.6M. Typical payer split:Local ≈ ~50%,State ≈ 40–45%,Federal <10%. Figures vary by year; confirm with ODEW finance profiles, NCES, and LSC.

Notes: Ranges reflect latest commonly cited figures through 2024; confirm current‑year numbers with ODEW/NCES/LSC and DYS publications for incarceration costs.

Designed with LWV colors (purple #521c50, red #be0f34, blue #005596, gold #ffe099). For print, use “Save as PDF.” • Questions?web [at] lwvcols.com

Metro Columbus – Economic Potential of High School Graduates


D: Economic Potential of High School Graduates and Increasing Graduation Rates

District Enrollment Graduation
Rate (%)		 Annual New
Graduates		 Median Annual
Earnings per Grad		 Total Annual
Earnings Potential		 Remaining Potential
(to 95% Grad)
2–3 Star Districts
Columbus City 45,000 80 3,600 $28,000 $100,800,000 $18,900,000
Groveport Madison 6,300 85 535 $30,000 $16,050,000 $1,888,235
Whitehall City 3,300 78 257 $28,000 $7,196,000 $1,568,359
South-Western City 21,000 87 1,827 $31,000 $56,637,000 $5,208,000
Westerville City 14,500 92 1,334 $35,000 $46,690,000 $1,522,500
Gahanna-Jefferson 7,900 91 719 $34,000 $24,446,000 $1,074,549
Canal Winchester Local 4,300 90 387 $33,000 $12,771,000 $709,500
Reynoldsburg City 7,500 88 660 $32,000 $21,120,000 $1,680,000
Hamilton Local 3,200 84 269 $31,000 $8,339,000 $1,092,012
Total 2–3 Star Districts $294,049,000 $33,643,155



District Enrollment Graduation
Rate (%)		 Annual New
Graduates		 Median Annual
Earnings per Grad		 Total Annual
Earnings Potential
4–5 Star Districts
Hilliard City 16,400 95 1,558 $38,000 $59,204,000
Worthington City 10,800 96 1,037 $39,000 $40,443,000
Bexley City 2,300 98 225 $40,000 $9,000,000
Dublin City 16,800 97 1,629 $41,000 $66,789,000
Upper Arlington City 6,200 98 608 $42,000 $25,536,000
Olentangy Local* 23,000 97 2,231 $41,000 $91,471,000
Grandview Heights 1,000 96 92 $40,000 $3,680,000
New Albany–Plain Local 5,300 97 498 $42,000 $20,916,000
Total 4–5 Star Districts $317,039,000

*Olentangy Local enrollment reflects portion within Franklin County. “Remaining Potential” estimates the additional annual earnings if each 2–3★ district reached a 95% graduation rate, using the same median earnings per graduate shown.

Fishbone: Early Literacy → Graduation → Economic Impact


Metro Columbus — Early Literacy → Graduation → Economic Impact

Fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram linking causes and advocacy levers to graduation and earnings
Total Annual Earnings Potential (2–3★):—
Remaining Potential to 95% Graduation (2–3★):—
Focus Area:Franklin County + overlaps
Fishbone DiagramSpine from Early Literacy to Economic Impact, with branches for causes and advocacy levers.Economic ImpactEarly Literacy3rd Grade ReadingMiddle SchoolHS GraduationInstruction & Literacy (K–3)Attendance & AbsenteeismFamily & Community SupportsEquitable Funding (FSFP)Voter & Legislative ActionPathways & Partnerships
Spine: Literacy → Graduation → ImpactBranches: Causes & Levers

Instruction & Literacy (K–3)

  • Evidence-based reading (science of reading, phonics, decoding)
  • Dyslexia screening & intervention; MTSS tiers
  • High-dosage tutoring; summer bridge

Early literacy proficiency raises 3rd-grade promotion, which compounds into higher HS graduation.


Attendance & Absenteeism

  • Chronic absenteeism response teams
  • Transportation reliability; safe routes
  • Positive school climate; belonging

Reducing chronic absenteeism improves learning time and on-track indicators.


Family & Community Supports

  • Wraparound services; school-based health/mental health
  • Libraries & community literacy partners
  • After-school & summer enrichment

Stability and support at home/community reinforce skill gains and persistence.


Equitable Funding (FSFP)

  • Fully phase-in FSFP to address base cost needs
  • Stabilize aid; limit overreliance on local property tax
  • Targeted funds to 2–3★ districts to lift graduation to95%

Use theRemaining Potential to 95% Gradbadge above to track the annual earnings lift from improved graduation.


Voter & Legislative Action

  • Coordinate outreach bySenate SD3/15/16/25and matching House districts
  • Share local impact stories; reference district maps; schedule meetings
  • Ask for: full FSFP, literacy investments, attendance supports

Use your legislator table to targetSenateandHousecontacts per school district.


Pathways & Partnerships

  • Career pathways, CTE, dual credit, work-based learning
  • Partner with employers & higher ed
  • Credit recovery; alternative pathways to diploma

Multiple on-ramps to graduation protect against setbacks and raise earnings capacity.

Tip: Click any branch label on the diagram to highlight its card.

Franklin County – Risk Indicators by Performance Group


Franklin County – Student Risk Indicators + DOPR (2022–23 Approx.)

District Enrollment Economically Disadvantaged (%) Chronically Absent (%) Suspended ≥1x (%) Third Grade Literacy (%) Juvenile Incarceration (per 1,000) DOPR Site in District?
2–3 ★ Districts
Columbus City 45,000 75% 48% 22% 38% 6.0 Yes
South-Western City 21,000 52% 32% 14% 52% 3.5 No / Nearby
Reynoldsburg City 10,500 51% 34% 15% 47% 3.8 No / Nearby
Westerville City 15,000 38% 28% 11% 58% 2.9 No / Nearby
Gahanna-Jefferson 8,000 35% 22% 10% 61% 2.5 No
Canal Winchester 4,800 37% 25% 12% 55% 3.0 No
Hamilton Local 3,500 58% 30% 14% 46% 4.2 No / Nearby
Whitehall City 3,400 74% 44% 20% 40% 5.5 Yes
Total (2–3 Star) ~111,000 ~55% ~36% ~15% ~49% ≈4.2 DOPR ≈ 3,000–4,000 countywide
4–5 ★ Districts
Hilliard City 16,000 32% 20% 9% 66% 1.5 No
Dublin City 16,500 19% 15% 6% 74% 0.9 No
Worthington City 10,000 27% 18% 8% 68% 1.2 No
Upper Arlington 6,000 10% 12% 5% 80% 0.5 No
Bexley City 2,300 12% 13% 4% 78% 0.6 No
Grandview Heights 1,100 14% 11% 4% 76% 0.7 No
New Albany–Plain Local 5,300 11% 13% 5% 79% 0.5 No
Olentangy Local (Franklin share) 8,000 8% 10% 3% 82% 0.4 No / Nearby
Total (4–5 Star) ~65,000 ~17% ~13% ~5% ~75% ≈0.8 No DOPR
Grand Total ~176,000 ~43% ~28% ~11% ~61% ≈2.5 DOPR ≈ 3,000–4,000 students countywide

Footnote:Dropout Prevention and Recovery (DOPR) schoolsare state-chartered public community schools authorized under ORC 3314.35 to serve students aged 16–21 who are credit-deficient, over-age, or previously dropped out. They focus on credit recovery, flexible scheduling, and re-engagement pathways toward high school graduation or equivalency.
Third Grade Literacy (%)= share of students reading proficiently by end of grade 3.
Juvenile Incarceration= estimated rate of youth from that district entering the juvenile justice system annually (per 1,000 students). Rates are approximate, derived from county-level data and district risk profiles.

FSFP – State stance vs Impact (Handout)


FSFP — State stance vs Impact (Condensed)
State stance Impact
State underfunds FSFP yet claims it is supporting the funding formula by using 2023 costs. Shortchanging schools shifts the burden to families through higher property taxes, rents, and sales taxes. Low-wealth districts raise far less, so kids in poorer communities get less even when voters say “yes.”
“We can’t afford FSFP.” The gap is only $2.5 billion—small compared to Ohio’s budget. Instead, funds go to vouchers and incarceration rather than classrooms.
Vouchers should help low-income families in failing schools. In 2023–24, over $400 million went to EdChoice Expansion, mostly for wealthier families. Less than 20% of recipients are low-income.
“Parental choice” expands opportunities. 78% of students attend public schools, and in nine counties they are the only choice. Vouchers drain funds from the system serving most kids.
State support for education is stable. Repeated state income tax cuts shift the burden to local property taxes. Low-wealth districts fall further behind.
The system is accountable to communities. School boards are becoming more accountable to state politicians, not local voters. Community voice is diminished.
No money for full school funding. Lawmakers approved a $600M subsidy for the Browns stadium while cutting school support. Stadium jobs are temporary; education builds futures.
School choice drives improvement. Diverting funds to unaccountable alternatives weakens public schools. Private schools receiving vouchers must be held to state standards.
Federal support can fill the gap. Federal aid is unstable and likely to decline. Ohio must invest directly in its schools.
“Flat taxes are fair because everyone pays the same rate.” Flat(er) taxes shift the load to sales and property taxes, which are regressive. Poorer families pay more of their income than the wealthy.
“Local control is better; just pass a levy.” Levies raise far less in low-wealth areas for the same millage. This isn’t local control—it’s structural inequality.
Governance principles for a public education system are being met. Wealthy districts use loopholes to avoid open enrollment from poorer districts. State control is eroding true school board independence.