Senator Cirino Backs House Bill to Prohibit Funding for Schools Actively Suing the State

State Senator Jerry Cirino (R-Kirtland) recently announced his support for legislation by State Representative Jamie Callender (R-Concord) that withholds state foundation funding being directed towards school districts that are actively suing the state of Ohio.

"The priority of our schools should be that every student is educated to meet the standards of our state, not the pursuit of ideology," said Senator Cirino. "Representative Callender's bill ensures that schools cannot use state money intended to meet student needs to sue the very state that supports them. I'm proud to support this legislation and look forward to seeing it in the Senate."

Bill Summary:

House Bill 671, introduced by Representative Callender, allows the state to withhold state foundation funding for local school districts if they are actively pursuing legal action against the state regarding Ohio's school funding calculation, including funding for Ohio's five scholarship programs. This follows Ohio lawmakers' decision in the 135th General Assembly to provide universal school choice eligibility for all Ohio families through the income-based EdChoice Expansion Scholarship program.

The bill is currently pending in the Ohio House.