Ohio lawmakers are diving into budget talks about education and getting back to work in the House Education Committee. They’re gearing up to examine school regulations and funding to set their priorities for the future.
State Rep. Sarah Fowler Arthur, a Republican from Ashtabula, has taken the lead as committee chair. With her background in education and a focus on empowering parents, she aims to tackle what she sees as excessive regulations affecting Ohio’s education system.
“Over the years, Ohio’s education system has become bogged down with red tape,” she stated during a recent meeting. “Too many policies have unintentionally taken the joy out of learning for students and teachers.”
Committee member Rep. Adam Bird, also a Republican, echoed her sentiments. He pointed out that teachers are overwhelmed with added duties like health intervention plans and school safety measures. He believes it’s time to reassess the workload on teachers to ensure their focus remains on teaching.
Fowler Arthur expressed hope that the committee would explore ways to give more flexibility to local schools. She mentioned Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman, emphasizing that real change comes through the budget and the legislature’s funding choices.
Recently, Governor Mike DeWine unveiled his executive budget proposal, suggesting $12.4 billion for schools in 2026 and $12.6 billion for 2027. This plan includes funding for the Fair School Funding Plan, introduced to better tailor education costs to the specific needs of districts, instead of applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
However, whether this plan will remain in the budget is uncertain, as some Republican lawmakers are hesitant about continuing it. There is also strong support for the private school voucher system included in DeWine’s proposal, which aims to provide wider access to vouchers for families.
While some public school advocates praised DeWine for including the Fair School Funding Plan, they raised concerns about inflation not being factored into the budget. They worry that based on 2022 costs, funding could fall below historical levels. Jason Marshall, a parent from Pickerington, expressed frustration, stating, “If I can’t base my grocery budget on past prices, how can lawmakers budget for schools?”
In a discussion about the budget, Ohio’s Education and Workforce Director Stephen Dackin noted that DeWine’s recommendations are a good starting point, though some adjustments to the funding formula may be necessary. This includes a proposal to reduce a funding guarantee that ensures districts do not receive less money than in the previous year.
Fowler Arthur also mentioned uncertainty surrounding the federal education policies, hinting at potential changes coming from the Department of Government Efficiency, which is exploring ways to improve federal education policies.
Looking ahead, Fowler Arthur plans to meet with the House Education Committee weekly until Easter. They will be working through the budget provisions while the Senate drafts its own budget. Ultimately, both documents will need to align with the governor’s recommendations to create a finalized budget by July 1.
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education,Fair School Funding Plan,Ohio House Education Committee,Ohio House Finance Committee,state budget
