More than 40 districts urge Ohio lawmakers to fairly money public schools prior to private

COLUMBUS, Ohio (BNN)-- Forty-one urban school districts in Ohio are urging state legislators to pump the brakes on broadening school option coupons until the state's public schools are completely funded.

Previously this month, the group of districts, consisting of Columbus City Schools, wrote a letter to the General Assembly asking its members to prioritize its funding plan for Ohio's public school system-- which the state Supreme Court has twice ruled unconstitutional-- as they complete the state's biennial spending plan by the June 30 due date.

The districts' letter comes as lawmakers think about a number of proposals to expand the number of students eligible to receive state-funded scholarships, most frequently through the EdChoice Scholarship Program, to cover the expenses of independent school tuition.

As it stands, EdChoice coupons are awarded to families earning 250% of the federal poverty level. Gov. Mike DeWine's proposed budget would raise that threshold to 400% of the poverty line, which, for a family of 4, totals up to $120,000 a year.

The Ohio House took an action even more, suggesting eligibility be expanded to 450% of the federal hardship line-- a relocation that the 41 school districts stated would consist of almost every trainee in the state "at a considerable cost."

" There is sufficient empirical proof to prove that the method to deal with the poverty achievement gap is robustly funding public schools to set up best practices: early childhood education; a well-rounded school experience including culture, sports, and the arts; the extra-curricular activities that offer students a sense of purpose; community-minded and community-building schools; and cooperative learning," the letter checked out. "As a state we must focus on the places where this is occurring-- the public schools."

While legislators think about expanding EdChoice, both during budget plan settlements and in separate pieces of legislation, they are likewise phasing in the six-year execution of the Fair School Funding Plan to deal with inequities within the state's public schools.

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The group of districts also pressed legislators to hold independent schools receiving EdChoice dollars responsible for how those funds are invested. Unlike Ohio's public schools, private schools can choose whether to accept or decline students, the districts said.

" There is frequently talk of competitors being excellent, however that only works if we are contending on a level playing field. In some school districts, non-public schools are receiving more state financing per student through coupons than the public school is receiving from the state's share of financing," the letter checked out. "If that scale has tipped, shouldn't responsibility follow?"

Hundreds of students participated in a rally at the Statehouse on Wednesday to show their assistance for broadening school coupons. "We wish to make certain every kid can go to the school of their option," Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said.

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The EdChoice program is dealing with a legal difficulty itself. In December, a Franklin County judge enabled a suit challenging the program's constitutionality to proceed.

The school districts who signed the letter addressed to legislators consist of:

• Akron Public Schools




Canton City Schools




Cincinnati Public Schools




Cleveland Metropolitan School District




Columbus City Schools




Dayton Public Schools




Toledo Public Schools




Youngstown Public Schools




Alliance City Schools




Barberton City Schools




Finneytown Local School District




Huber Heights City Schools




Lima City Schools




Lorain City Schools




Mansfield City Schools




Maple Heights City Schools




Marion City Schools



• Mt. Healthy City Schools




North College Hill Schools




Oberlin City Schools




Painesville City Schools




Richmond Heights Local Schools




Sandusky City Schools




South Euclid Lyndhurst City Schools




Tiffin City Schools




Trotwood Madison City Schools




Warren City Schools




Warrensville Heights City Schools




Bedford City Schools




Berea City Schools




Brooklyn City Schools




Cleveland Heights-University Heights City Schools




Cuyahoga Heights Local Schools




East Cleveland City Schools




Euclid City Schools




Fairview Park City Schools




Garfield Heights City Schools




Lakewood City Schools




Maple Heights City Schools




Parma City Schools



• Shaker Heights City Schools