Currently, our state legislators are preparing a state budget that will determine whether to fairly fund Ohio schools by completing implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan.
The Ohio House and Senate took a giant step forward for students and schools by enacting the Fair School Funding Plan in 2021. The Fair School Funding Plan was developed by school district leaders and expert practitioners. It translates real student needs into concrete resources by accounting for essential education components like appropriate class sizes, student support services, and educational technology. The formula treats all taxpayers fairly based on their community’s ability to raise local funds.
The implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan formula represents a move toward the equitable and adequate funding of Ohio’s schools. However, for the plan years 5 and 6 of the implementation must be included in the budget and base cost inputs must be updated to provide the funding necessary due to inflation.
The Governor’s budget, which is now being considered in the House of Representatives, includes the phase-in of years 5 and 6. However, the Governor’s budget does not include an update to base costs which means that districts would lose money because the funding formula would not account for inflationary increases in base costs. Basically, the Governor’s proposed budget is lopsided. By not including inflationary increases for items like the average salary of a teacher or the cost of a computer, the district is set to take significant losses in the next two years. In Fiscal Year 2026 (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026) the district would take a funding loss of $424,438, while in Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027) the district would take a funding loss of $845,136. These numbers represent cuts of 3.4% and 6.9% of state funding. This also represents a large shift in state funding that will now be expected to be passed along at the local level, changing our percentage of state aid from 45% in the current year to only 39.2% next year and 33.5% in FY27.
Every dollar invested in our local schools impacts our local economy and our future workforce. Once fully implemented, the Fair School Funding Plan will bring predictability and stability for Ohio schools, allowing districts to sustain and develop programming that will prepare all students for success. That means Ohio will continue to be a desirable place to live, work and raise a family.
It is vital that legislators hear from you regarding the Fair School Funding Plan.
Hearings are occurring today and the next two days. To help our district and the nearly 2/3rds of districts who will experience a loss with the current budget proposal, we are asking that you please take the time to do one or more of the following:
1. Call the following legislators who represent our school district:
a. Representative Angie King with office number (614) 466-9624
b. Senator Susan Manchester with office number (614) 466-7584
2. Email each legislator a short, paragraph-long email:
a. House member email rep84@ohiohouse.gov
b. Senator email manchester@ohiosenate.gov
What do you say?
· Tell them who you are and from what viewpoint you are writing (community member, parent, teacher, school staff member, etc.). My name is NAME and I am a ROLE in the NAME OF DISTRICT School District.
· Share in a few sentences why you support your public school, providing examples of the how your public school provides value to you, your family, and the community. I am writing/calling to ask Rep. LEGISLATOR NAME to support the full implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan with updated inputs to account for inflation. This is important to me because…
· Emphasize that to represent our school district and community, the legislator needs to support full implementation of the Fair School Funding along with supporting updating of the base cost inputs. Please represent our community in Columbus by fully phasing in the Fair School Funding Plan with updated base costs.
It is often said that what we value, we are willing to fund. As our legislators begin discussions of priorities for the biennium budget, they need to hear from you about the importance and urgency of investing in Ohio’s children.
I urge you to join me in reaching out to House of Representative member Angie King and Senator Susan Manchester, to share your support for the full implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan and the importance of investing in Ohio’s future.