School Funding

This election, many Ohioans will be voting on school levies. Education funding is a complicated and controversial topic, but one way to make sense of it is by using a quirky metaphor: it’s like baking a cake.

More than half a dozen central Ohio schools are asking voters to pass levies or bond issues in November.

School districts like Western Local in southern Ohio received millions of dollars in federal COVID relief aid. As those funds dry up, they face looming cuts.

Ohio House Bill 920 is a little-understood state law from 1976 that essentially locks many school districts’ tax levies in at the same rate as when they were passed. Schools say it's causing them to go back to the ballot more than they should, while they struggle to keep up with rising costs.

State data shows thousands of Franklin County students took EdChoice vouchers this school year, but enrollment in public school districts also grew.

A nuance in Ohio’s property tax law means the state’s school districts are on the ballot year after year after year. That can lead to fatigue and make levies hard to pass.

Residents in Columbus, Dublin, Canal Winchester and Groveport are being asked to consider school levies during this election cycle.

Expanded access and funding for a controversial school voucher program has intensified the tug-of-war over school funding in Ohio. On our weekly Reporter Roundtable, we discuss this as well as Ohio Rep. Bob Young's resignation, redistricting, property taxes and more.

Groups representing Ohio school districts, teachers and education officials are pleased the final state budget includes what’s been called the Fair School Funding plan, an overhaul of the formula by which Ohio calculates state aid to schools.

The two-year $75 billion state budget is awaiting Gov. Mike DeWine’s signature before the fiscal year expires on Wednesday. The budget process was led by Republicans, from DeWine’s initial proposal through the House and Senate, which are dominated by the GOP. But a lot of Democrats ended up supporting the final product.