Institute Sounds Alarm on State Schools Budget

A new budget proposal from the Ohio House of Representatives could slash funding for public schools in the state’s Appalachian counties by more than $565 million over the next two years, according to a report issued by the Ohio River Valley Institute.

The proposal would result in the lowest state share of public school funding in Ohio history and underfund districts statewide by an estimated $2.75 billion.

“The House budget plan forces Appalachian families to choose between moving out of their homes or sending their kids to schools with the least amount of state support in Ohio’s history,” said Nick Messenger, economist and senior researcher with the institute. “This could put our students and teachers even further behind.”

The plan would replace the Fair School Funding Plan, which was implemented in fiscal year 2023. That plan used a detailed formula to determine school funding based on local poverty rates, the number of students in special education, vocational programs, or gifted programs, and other district-specific needs.

Under the proposed budget, those adjustments would be eliminated, along with the FSFP’s “guarantee” provision that protects schools facing sudden enrollment drops or sharp changes in property values.

Critics also note that the new proposal ignores the impact of inflation and removes targeted support for districts facing economic hardship or those losing students to private institutions through Ohio’s EdChoice voucher program.

If approved, the budget would significantly shift the burden of school funding to local communities across the Appalachian region and beyond, according to the Institute.  

The Ohio River Valley Institute is an independent, nonprofit research and communications center—a think tank—founded in 2020. The organization focuses on research and communication related to the Ohio River Valley region, including western Pennsylvania, southeastern Ohio, West Virginia, and eastern Kentucky.  

Read the original April 24 OVI Blog Post by Nick Messenger here. The feature image on the blog is the entrance to Barnesville High School.