Recognizing the importance of an educated citizenry, Ohio taxpayers have made generous investments in K–12 education. In FY 2021, statewide spending on public primary and secondary education reached a record high of $21 billion or $13,300 per pupil. Last July, the legislature passed a new funding formula that could potentially add another $2 billion per year in state education spending.
But how those funds are distributed to schools and ultimately spent matters enormously to student achievement. In these realms, unfinished business remains.
Our latest policy brief, second in a series of papers, looks at several issues that require attention in the next state budget cycle. The brief also offers recommendations that would continue to move Ohio toward a more efficient, productive, and transparent school funding system.