Sykes, Lehner Announce Fair School Funding Plan
November 6, 2020
Vernon Sykes News
Today, state Senators Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) announced the introduction of the Fair School Funding Plan (Senate Bill 376) to reform Ohio’s school funding system to meet the diverse needs of all students and school districts while accommodating the realities of the state budget.
“There’s a prevailing consensus that our school funding system is still unconstitutional, nearly 25 years after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled on DeRolph,” said Sykes. “Educators and administrators overwhelmingly agree: It’s time for a system that accounts for the actual cost to educate students and doesn’t overwhelm our taxpayers with endless levies to make up for the disparities in our current funding system. The Fair School Funding Plan is a transparent method that addresses these issues and more, allowing school districts to plan and provide more enriching opportunities for their students.”
The Fair School Funding Plan, which is based on changes recommended by the School Funding WorkGroup to House Bill 305, establishes a system that’s fairer and more transparent by not relying exclusively on property values to determine district revenue capacity. The plan aims to keep local tax dollars in school districts by directly funding public, private school scholarship and community school students where they are educated.
This bill would also reform the formula currently used to calculate how much money goes to school districts so funding is based on how much it costs to educate children in each district. Schools will receive more money if they serve low-income students, students with special needs and English learners. Additionally, the plan enhances state investments in schools’ transportation needs through bus replacement and operational cost sharing so districts can focus more dollars on the classroom.
“We owe it to our Ohio kids to provide a quality and well-funded education,” Lehner said. “This bill tackles the problems of the past by providing an investment in our future. There is a lot of bipartisan support for this bill in addition to much excitement from those in the education field.”
To see the fully phased-in simulations for traditional school districts per pupil, click here.
To see the fully phased-in simulations for traditional school district formula aid, click here.
To see the fully phased-in simulations for JVSD formula aid, click here.
To see the fully phased-in simulations for community and STEM school formula aid, click here.
“There’s a prevailing consensus that our school funding system is still unconstitutional, nearly 25 years after the Ohio Supreme Court ruled on DeRolph,” said Sykes. “Educators and administrators overwhelmingly agree: It’s time for a system that accounts for the actual cost to educate students and doesn’t overwhelm our taxpayers with endless levies to make up for the disparities in our current funding system. The Fair School Funding Plan is a transparent method that addresses these issues and more, allowing school districts to plan and provide more enriching opportunities for their students.”
The Fair School Funding Plan, which is based on changes recommended by the School Funding WorkGroup to House Bill 305, establishes a system that’s fairer and more transparent by not relying exclusively on property values to determine district revenue capacity. The plan aims to keep local tax dollars in school districts by directly funding public, private school scholarship and community school students where they are educated.
This bill would also reform the formula currently used to calculate how much money goes to school districts so funding is based on how much it costs to educate children in each district. Schools will receive more money if they serve low-income students, students with special needs and English learners. Additionally, the plan enhances state investments in schools’ transportation needs through bus replacement and operational cost sharing so districts can focus more dollars on the classroom.
“We owe it to our Ohio kids to provide a quality and well-funded education,” Lehner said. “This bill tackles the problems of the past by providing an investment in our future. There is a lot of bipartisan support for this bill in addition to much excitement from those in the education field.”
To see the fully phased-in simulations for traditional school districts per pupil, click here.
To see the fully phased-in simulations for traditional school district formula aid, click here.
To see the fully phased-in simulations for JVSD formula aid, click here.
To see the fully phased-in simulations for community and STEM school formula aid, click here.