Two Approaches to Equity
Heading into the Conference Committee, the House and Senate budget plans differ significantly for nonpublic schools. At the heart of the difference is a philosophy around equity, and how to achieve it. The House budget advanced the plan created by a School Funding Workgroup consisting of public district leaders that provides for equity of inputs, guaranteeing amounts of funding based on inputs to each public district. It included no changes to existing state scholarship programs and funds, and no nonpublic leaders (schools that educate about 10% of Ohio students) were invited to participate in its creation. By comparison, the Senate plan similarly advances inputs to public districts based on actual enrollment, meeting the goals of the School Funding Workgroup, namely increased support for public schools that is sustainable, stable, and predictable. The Senate plan does so efficiently, while also strengthening the existing school choice provisions, including state scholarships (and char...