January 23, 2007 - School Funding - Parity Aid Bill Introduced
by Jennifer Garrison
Feb. 18, 2007
For immediate release: Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2007
CONTACT: Danielle Nelson at (614) 644-8728 or John Kohlstrand at (614) 466-9036
Garrison to propose school funding reforms
State Representative Jennifer Garrison, D-Marietta, announced today two forthcoming proposals that would improve Ohio’s system of paying for education by increasing the amount of aid available to school districts with low property values and encourage full-day kindergarten throughout Ohio.
“I anticipate a great deal of discussion about the fairest way to pay for education in Ohio and to support our children,” Garrison said. “These concepts should be part of that discussion.”
The first of Garrison’s bills would increase the amount of parity aid available to districts where low property values now make it a burden to adequately fund education.
In parity aid, districts are ranked by income and property wealth. Aid is offered to the bottom four-fifths of districts – calculated based on what a certain number of mills would generate in a district at the 80th percentile, minus what it would generate in the district to receive the parity aid.
When originally conceived in 2001, parity aid was to have been phased in by 2005, and based on what a 9.5 mill levy would raise in a district at the 80th percentile. In the current formula, parity aid is only based on what 7.5 mills would generate.
Garrison’s proposal would increase parity aid by basing it on 9.7 mills. This would devote an additional $140 million per year to districts where lower values place more of a burden on homeowners.
“The courts have consistently said that too much of the burden of paying for education is placed on property owners. This is one way to address that concern,” Garrison said.
Garrison said she will also be introducing a proposal to encourage universal full-day kindergarten throughout Ohio by making it more affordable for districts.
Her plan would adjust Ohio’s school funding formula so that kindergarteners who attend school for a full-day are treated as one full student. Currently, state government funds kindergarteners as one-half of a student, no matter how long their school day.
If all districts were to take advantage of the proposal, it would mean another $125 million per year available for kindergarten education in Ohio.
Garrison introduced a similar proposal, House Bill 640, during the 126th General Assembly.
“I suspect the vast majority of Ohio’s school districts would move to full-day kindergarten if they had the resources,” Garrison said. “This plan would ensure they have those resources. I see it as an investment in our most precious asset, which is our children.”
# # #