Our role in changing state policy

Through our initiative School Funding Matters, we have provided research, advocacy and outreach designed to help guide Ohio's efforts to reform its school funding system to a successful resolution.

Our efforts have been guided by three principles:

School funding should be based on education strategies that work. The amount of funding allocated for public education should be determined by a method that relies on research into successful practices that have led to student achievement, an approach known as the evidence-based model for costing out.
Schools should have a reliable source of funding. Districts need a funding mechanism that allows them to keep pace with inflation and spend less energy seeking passage of school levies. Existing law and state procedures unduly handicap school districts.
Ohioans should have a voice in shaping the future of their public schools. Citizens should be part of deciding how much money should be allotted to schools and what that money should spent for.

Research and analysis

As Ohio has sought for the most effective way to fund its schools. we have provided research on school funding models, tax policy and other issues relevant to the problem:

Public opinion polls

Polling over the two-year period leading up to Ohio changing school funding as part of the 2011-12 budget showed that Ohioans thought the system needed to be fixed (80% in May 2007) and that more of the state budget should go to education (64% in October 2008). Our polls also indicated strong support for proposed education reforms and confidence that they would improve the quality of education (68% in March 2009).

Research into funding models

Our analysis of the funding options available and comparison of two differing proposals under consideration helped inform decision making.

The Importance of Costing out a Quality Education in Ohio: Why Evidence-based Should be Ohio’s Choice This Policy Report issued in January 2009 found that the evidence-based model offered Ohio the best opportunity to benefit from an objective, research-rich approach. A companion report, "Property Taxes for Funding Public Education: Ohio's Unique Method for Controlling Tax Increases," explained unintended consequences of the property tax restrictions created by Ohio law and possible solutions.

Review of governor's proposal Lawrence O. Picus and Allan Odden, creators of the evidence-based school funding model, compared Ohio's proposed plan with their recommendations.
Overview of research on components of evidence-based model To help Ohio's citizens and policy makers analyze proposed changes to how public schools work, we compiled current research and resources for the major proposal areas.
Models for Ohio School Funding: Comparing the Evidence-Based Approach with Weighted Student Funding As legislators debated competing proposals, we issued a comparison of one model of weighted student (or per-pupil) funding with the Ohio Evidence-Based Model.

Ohio funding and you

Where's the evidence?

The evidence-based funding model directs resources to successful practices. Current research and resources behind the model are compiled here.

Public reaction to education reforms

A poll conducted shortly after Gov. Ted Strickland announced hs education reform plan found clear support for such measures as all-day kindergarten, a residency program for teachers, lower teacher-student ratios in the early grades, broader graduation requirements, more emphasis on skills such as teamwork and problem-solving, and giving districts more authority to fire underperforming teachers.