Urge lawmakers to adopt the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan now!

Urge lawmakers to adopt the bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan now!

state vs students

HB 96 is the budget bill for FY 26 and FY27. On Tuesday April 8th, the Ohio House passed their version of the 2026-27 budget bill, shorting the final phase of the Fair School Funding Plan by more than $400m. This bill also caps how much a district can carryover in its budget from year to year; carryovers are just how much money is left after costs are covered. Districts whose carryover is more than 30% of its operating budget would be required to refund that money to taxpayers. At the same time the House budget also includes an amendment that would give $600 million in bonds to owners of the Cleveland Browns to build their new stadium. The Haslams own the Cleveland Browns, the Columbus Crew, and have a stake in the Milwaukee Bucks. The Haslams have made significant political contributions to House Speakers Matt Huffman and Jason Stephens who play pivotal roles in Ohio's Legislative process today and also gave $100k to help defeat Fair Districts Issue 1 last year. 

We have a window for your advocacy: it takes a minute to fill and email an action form here. To have an informed impact scroll below and write a personalized email.we are here

This week budget actions shift to the Senate Finance Committee as well as to your Ohio state senator and Senate President Rob McColley (see more about the budget process below to orient you). 

Read sample published letters below advocating for Fair School Funding. Then we encourage you to write your own personalized and impactful letters to lawmakers and post on social media. Scroll down to find specific facts about your own school district that our education subcommittee has put together for your use. 

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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

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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.

 Now write your letter...

How HR 96 Budget Bill cuts funding for your School District

2025 budget

 

Data from Ohio School Report Cards

Economically disadvantaged

 

Will your school district have funding to provide effective access to education for all students?

LWVMC recognizes vouchers should be used only as a tool for addressing poverty and should not have the effect of weakening your public education especially when federal dollars are shrinking!

When vouchers were originally conceived, they were intended to help low income parents whose children were assigned to failing schools. The poverty level starts at $15,650 for the annual support of a family of one and increases by $5,500 for each additional person. For a family of four, the poverty limit is $32,150. Today voucher amounts are $6166 for grades K-8 and $8408 for grades 9-12.

With the current policy families are eligible for vouchers upto 450% of the Ohio poverty level. Therefore, the annual income for a family of four can be more than $144,675 and still eligible for the full voucher amount for each child. The two main voucher/scholarship programs offered by Ohio are EdChoice, and EdChoice-Exe. Under EdChoice, the family income must be less than or equal to 450% of the poverty level. In the EdChoice-Exp program - “Exp” stands for Expansion Scholarship Program - there is no income limit, but the voucher amount is reduced as the income limit increases. So a family of four with an annual income of $241,125, is still eligible for an annual amount of more than $1000 per child in high school.

In 2024, more than 78% of the families receiving vouchers under the EdChoice program were classified asnot low income. According to WOSU’s All Things Considered (2/28/2024), in the FY23-FY24 school year when the EdChoice-Exe was introduced, 759 new vouchers were awarded to Columbus residents, but the Columbus school enrollment dropped by only 180 students. This implies that more than 75% of the families getting vouchers already had their children in private schools.

School Spending per Student Should Improve Outcomes

According to US News and World Reports, the Columbus School District has 45,338 students and 118 schools. The Columbus District’s minority enrollment is 80%, and the district’s annual expenses are $15,700 per student. The Columbus City Schools are rated 2 stars. Upper Arlington has 6,100 students, 9 schools, and spends $15,900 per student. The district’s minority enrollment is 20%, and Upper Arlington Schools are rated 5 stars.

The bipartisan Fair School Funding Plan has non-instructional categories that are funded acknowledging inner-city (and rural) schools must spend resources on issues not present in richer suburban school districts. Among these are:

  • Security for school
  • Nutritious lunches
  • Tutoring services
  • Extensive counseling
  • Timely transportation services
  • Extensive health services
  • More educational supplies
  • Mentoring services
  • After-school care for students
  • Home visits to parents/guardians.


    • References:

    1. FY 22 Fair School Funding Plan
    2. WOSU
    3. US News Upper Arlington
    4. US News Columbus

    Your letter and review

    Here are some tips for effective communication with our lawmakers.

  • Have a clear and concise message: Write or speak briefly about the issue and finish with your ask ("vote no/yes on x", "increase funding for x", "create legislation that will x"). If you are communicating about a specific bill, be sure to provide the bill number and sponsor.
  • Elected officials and their staff are often dealing with a high volume of calls, so a focused message makes it easier for them to understand and respond to.
  • You can start with Dispatch samples or a template message you just sent: Adapt it to make it shorter or more personal, or read it as-is. Personalize your message: Why is this important to you? What is your connection to the issue? Make it a story so you stand out.
  • Identify yourself as a constituent: Most lawmakers will immediately disregard someone who is outside of their district, so be sure to let them know you are a potential voter.
  • Why phone calls? Person-to-person communication is the most effective. They show effort and passion, and give you and the legislator (or their staff) the chance for an actual conversation.
  • We welcome emailed letter drafts for review and fact checking: vote [at] lwvcols.org. Our education subcommittee led by Dr. Jay Ramanathan along with a team of experts will fact check and make any suggestions.

    • Send your letter, Call!

    We urgently request calling your state senator now if they are on the Finance Committee to urge them to fully fund the Fair School Funding Plan (committee members from Franklin County below).

    You can fill an Action alert form below and read it to write a more impactful letter as outlined above.

    Ohio Senate Finance Committee

    Senator Hearcel F. Craig

    District: 15 (Columbus, OH)

    Party: Democrat

    Role: Member, Senate Finance Committee

    Contact Information

    • Email: district15 [at] ohiosenate.gov
    • Phone: 614-466-8064
    • Address: 1 Capitol Square, 2nd Floor, Columbus, OH 43215

    Additional Information

    For more details about Senator Craig's legislative activities and initiatives, please visit his official Ohio Senate page: Hearcel F. Craig - Ohio Senate.

    Franklin County Legislators Involved in Ohio HB 96

    Primary Sponsors

    • Dontavius L. Jarrells
      Email:district1 [at] ohiohouse.gov
      Phone: 614-466-1366
      Address: 77 S High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
    • Ismail Mohamed
      Email:district3 [at] ohiohouse.gov
      Phone: 614-466-1364
      Address: 77 S High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215

    Cosponsors from Franklin County

    • Hearcel F. Craig(D-Columbus)
      Email:district26 [at] ohiohouse.gov
      Phone: 614-466-1366
      Address: 77 S High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
    • Catherine D. Ingram(D-Columbus)
      Email:district35 [at] ohiohouse.gov
      Phone: 614-466-5100
      Address: 77 S High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
    • Latyna M. Humphrey(D-Columbus)
      Email:district24 [at] ohiohouse.gov
      Phone: 614-466-1441
      Address: 77 S High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
    • Jessica E. Miranda(D-Forest Park)
      Email:district28 [at] ohiohouse.gov
      Phone: 614-466-1366
      Address: 77 S High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
    • Phil Robinson(D-Solon)
      Email:district6 [at] ohiohouse.gov
      Phone: 614-466-1366
      Address: 77 S High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
    • Terrence Upchurch(D-Cleveland)
      Email:district10 [at] ohiohouse.gov
      Phone: 614-466-1366
      Address: 77 S High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
    • Casey Weinstein(D-Hudson)
      Email:district37 [at] ohiohouse.gov
      Phone: 614-466-1366
      Address: 77 S High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
    • Michael J. Skindell(D-Lakewood)
      Email:district23 [at] ohiohouse.gov
      Phone: 614-466-2000
      Address: 77 S High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
    • Bride Rose Sweeney(D-Cleveland)
      Email:district14 [at] ohiohouse.gov
      Phone: 614-466-1366
      Address: 77 S High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215
    • Daniel P. Troy(D-Willowick)
      Email:district60 [at] ohiohouse.gov
      Phone: 614-466-2000
      Address: 77 S High St, 13th Floor, Columbus, OH 43215

    More: Who is my Legislator?

    This page is related to which committees: 
    Metro Columbus - Making Democracy Work