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Rep. Hick-Hudson
Applauds House Passage of Fair School Funding Plan
Bill would transform broken
school funding formula, invest in Ohio's future
Rep. Hick-Hudson (D-Toledo)
last week voted in favor of the Fair School Funding Plan,
House Bill (HB) 305, bipartisan legislation sponsored by
Rep. John Patterson (D-Jefferson) that would transform the
way Ohio's schools are funded. Democratic lawmakers have
long fought to reform the state's school funding formula,
which the Ohio Supreme Court has found unconstitutional four
times, beginning with the DeRolph decision in 1997.
"I am encouraged by the
passage of HB 305, for too long Ohio's schools have been
disproportionately funded. HB 305 brings much need
transparency to the funding in our education system and is a
step in the right direction to continue to improve education
for all Ohioans" said Rep. Hick-Hudson. "My vote today is
part of my promise, the Ohio Promise, to support the
education of our children. It is an important first step in
funding public education."
The Fair School Funding Plan
would better determine the base cost of educating a typical
Ohio student before supports such as Gifted Education,
Special Education, poverty and transportation, among others
are added. Ohio's current formula lacks this input, which
was a major factor in the DeRolph decision to rule the
formula unconstitutional.
The bill would also address
another key DeRolph finding: the current overreliance on
property wealth in determining a district's ability to fund
its local share. The Fair School Funding Plan blends
property and income wealth to determine a more precise,
predictable basis for the local share.
After passing the House, HB
305 now moves to the Ohio Senate for consideration.
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