Directing School Funding to What Works

In the midst of the most difficult economic times in recent history, Ohio is struggling to provide enough resources so that its children receive the best possible public education.

Yet despite the dire financial situation, the state has started down the path to resolving nearly 20 years of controversy over its school funding system and establishing a sustainable approach that will provide adequate financing for its public schools for years to come.

As state leaders continue to grapple with how best to fund schools in coming years, Ohio Education Matters supports an approach that directs dollars to the teaching strategies shown through research to actually work. We are also committed to resolving property tax issues that hamper Ohio’s school districts and impede teaching.

We believe a fair funding system that spends public dollars on effective strategies and holds schools accountable for results is vital for Ohio’s future.

Ohio's new funding plan » After 20 years of controversy over its school funding system, Ohio now has a new method for providing funding to its public schools.

The school funding landscape » Ohio has a legacy of school funding controversy that includes four Supreme Court decisions declaring its system unconstitutional.

Ideas and innovation

Evidence on funding and performance

Bridge to Excellence, Maryland’s program to bring adequacy and equity to elementary and secondary classrooms, has successfully fueled increased student achievement and academic innovation throughout the state, according to an independent analysis. The report says that increased funding is tied to achievement gains.

A report by the School Finance Redesign Project at the University of Washington’s Center on Reinventing Public Education argues that state education finance systems must be completely overhauled in order to raise student achievement. The report, Funding Student Learning: How to Align Education Resources with Student Learning Goals, maintains that increases in education funding have not been matched by corresponding increases in student achievement and calls for a new system of school funding which ties resources directly to students.