State Funding for K-12 Education
During deliberations of the state’s two-year operating budget in odd-numbered years, state funding for K-12 education often receives much of the focus because of its percentage of the overall budget. This year has proven no different. Unfortunately, Ohio’s EdChoice Expansion program has become a scapegoat for public school districts and some media outlets after districts with smaller enrollments or higher property taxes are due to receive less money in Governor DeWine’s Executive Budget. The Catholic Conference of Ohio has not and will not seek to pit public schools against chartered nonpublic schools, which includes Catholic schools, or the funding for students attending public or nonpublic schools. However, we must clarify current State funding proposals given the framing of EdChoice scholarships in some places across Ohio.
Few people debate the importance of K-12 education for children. Indeed, the state agrees, as evidenced by the existence of public schools and funding for parents to choose the education they think is best for their children to succeed. The CCO continues to share the incredible benefits and life-changing situations for Ohio families because of the EdChoice program. Such funding for the EdChoice program is popular, as shown by increasing enrollment and scholarship usage in Catholic schools throughout Ohio. More and more students are enrolling in Catholic schools because Ohio provides parents with scholarships to choose the best schools for their children.
Governor DeWine’s Executive Budget, currently under deliberation in the Ohio House, retained all the scholarship programs, allowing parents to send their children to chartered nonpublic schools. These scholarship programs include the EdChoice Expansion program, scholarships for students with special needs, and scholarships for those who live in school districts with particularly poor academic results. A nonpublic school receives a charter from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce based on its adherence to Ohio’s educational operating standards, including licensing, health and safety standards, assessments approved by the State, and instruction time.
The Executive Budget also provides less funding for public school districts for two principal reasons that often do not receive coverage in popular discussions: 1.) smaller student enrollments and 2.) higher local property taxes. The budget proposal acknowledges that schools should not receive the same amount of funding if there are fewer students to educate. Further, more local tax dollars are going to schools, especially in wealthy areas, due to increased property taxes. Therefore, the budget proposal acknowledges this reality and wants to avoid taxpayers funding wealthier districts that receive more local dollars. A recent editorial from the Fordham Institute, a nonpartisan education think tank in Ohio, elucidates these points further, highlighting the overall reduction from the governor’s budget is a mere 0.2% of districts’ annual revenues.
Catholic schools across Ohio enjoy mostly cooperative relationships with public school districts in sharing resources. We must also clarify that the EdChoice program's popularity and appropriate funding do not “steal” from the public schools. It is, however, a just and pro-family policy that attracts and keeps families in Ohio who value options for their children’s education. EdChoice programs comprise only 6% of the state-budgeted spending on education. Further, even the full EdChoice scholarship amounts fail to cover the full cost of educating a student in many Catholic schools in Ohio.
We encourage families attending Catholic schools, Catholic educators, and all faithful citizens to advocate and inform their elected representatives and senators with this information and share stories of those attending Catholic schools throughout Ohio. Legislators must hear from all sides of those who benefit from state-supported education funding. We are grateful for teachers, administrators, and staff who continue enacting the principal mission of Catholic schools to form students into disciples of Christ who understand the Catholic faith while providing excellent academics in a safe and supportive environment.
