HB 96 is the budget bill for FY 26 and FY27. It will determine if the third phase of the Fair School Funding plan is adopted and if it meets the conditions for a true remedy.
Read sample published letters advocating for Fair School Funding. Then we encourage you to write letters to lawmakers and post on social media. Scroll down to find specific facts about your own hometown school district that our education subcommittee has put together for your use.
Published 29th March
School funding plan hurts public students
As a Columbus resident, I care about my community.
The Columbus City Schools district serves 45,000 students; 50% are economically disadvantaged. Without amendments, House Bill 96 would cut state basic aid for Columbus public school students by $45 million and more for special education services. Funding is inadequate; the proposed budget makes this worse.
Unfunded state mandates like transportation policies and charter schools make it harder to improve Ohio’s public schools.
In violation of the Ohio Constitution, HB 96 shifts greater burden to local taxpayers.
Legislators should amend HB 96 to achieve the Fair School Funding Plan. The current budget bill cuts foundation-formula-based funding for public schools by $103.4 million and increases state funding for private school vouchers by $265.4 million over the next biennium. As many as 359 districts will lose funding. Prioritizing private schools over public schools harms 1.5 million public-school students and favors unaccountable private schools that currently enroll 181,000 students.
Phase in the Fair School Funding Plan using up-to-date cost estimates. Amend HB 96 to make school funding fair for all students.
Cheryl Roller, President, League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Columbus
Published 2nd April
Lawmakers backpedaling on education
The cost of everything we purchase has increased dramatically over the last several years — groceries, utilities, health care and yes, even education.
Now and in the immediate future, it will take more funds for Ohio’s public-school districts to educate our students, including the equitable, shared funding that is provided at both the state and local levels via the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan.However, both Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio State Legislature are backpedaling on adequately funding our public schools. The budget proposal (House Bill 96) for fiscal years 2026 and 2027 uses costs from fiscal year 2022, shifting more of the burden to local school districts and taxpayers.
At the same time, the proposed budget increases funding for vouchers for both private and non-public, non-chartered schools. It is clear that the legislature favors private, religious and unaccountable schools over public schools.This is unacceptable.
Our K-12 public school students deserve full funding. It’s up to our legislature to do the right thing: use current costs and ensure that the Fair School Funding Plan is properly phased in.
Anne Neiwirth, League of Women Voters of Metropolitan Member, Columbus.
