Fair School Funding
Updated 7-13-2022
The first-year implementation of the Fair School Funding Plan (FSFP) has been beneficial to the district. The district will realize an increase of $4 million in revenue in fiscal year 2022 (over fiscal year 2021). Revenue estimates for fiscal year 2023 increase another $5 million (over fiscal year 2022).
Continued legislative support of the FSFP for the next two biennium budgets is vital. Fully funding the formula would allow the district to further stretch times between levy cycles and/or reduce operating mills needed to sustain programming.
Let your legislative representatives know school funding is important to you! Find your representatives and their contact information online at the Ohio Legislature General Assembly website.
Updated 3-1-2022
One-third of the Fair School Funding Plan has been adopted by the state in the current biennium budget. It is vital for district staff and community partners to continue to advocate for full funding of the formula. Specific components of the plan can be found here: Ohio Fair School Funding.
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) is tasked with developing new funding reports that explain funding model allocations. Funding reports were delayed until January 2022. Additional adjustments to formula calculations are expected in March 2022. Supplemental reports are also expected in March 2022. ODE funding reports can be found here: Traditional School Districts Funding. The results of the funding model will be included in the 2022 spring update of the five-year forecast.
Updated 7-8-2021
The Fair School Funding Plan has been adopted by the state in the current biennium budget. Specific components of the plan can be found here: Ohio Fair School Funding.
The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) is tasked with developing new funding reports that explain funding model allocations. New funding reports will demonstrate changes in base funding, direct funding of students where enrolled and the application of current statistics. Funding reports issued by ODE will incur progressive updates throughout July, August and September to include the components of the Fair School Funding Plan. FY22 actual funding allocations will not be available until the October or November reports. ODE funding reports can be found here: Traditional School Districts Funding. The results of the funding model will be included in the 2021 fall update of the five-year forecast.
Updated 6-30-2021
What is the status of the latest state biennium budget?
Governor DeWine prepares to sign the latest biennium budget in the next few days. This biennium budget includes significant changes to school funding with the inclusion of the Fair School Funding Plan (FSFP). Representatives Cupp and Patterson led a work group comprised of superintendents, treasurers, and economists that developed this plan during the past several years. Senators Sykes and Lehner supported the plan through the most recent legislative efforts to include the plan in the 2022-2023 biennium budget. Specific components of the plan can be found here: Ohio Fair School Funding.
What does the FSFP mean for Olentangy’s financial future?
If approved by Governor DeWine, estimates indicate that Olentangy will receive an additional $3.5 million in each of the next two fiscal years. This would provide the district with revenue for an additional four to five days of operations each year. Additionally, the district would no longer incur reductions for the Jon Peterson or Autism scholarships. The state would fund students where they are educated. This direct funding methodology would save the district approximately $1.5 million in annual deductions.
Why doesn’t the plan provide more funding if the funding formula was ‘fixed’?
Legislators were unwilling to support the funding of this model beyond the 2022-2023 biennium budget. The funding estimates represent the first two years of a six-year implementation as presented by the House.
We anticipate having more specifics on the outcomes of the new funding formula in the weeks to come. Updates will be provided as they become available.
Updated 4-12-2021
The District held a School Funding Virtual Public Forum March 22 featuring Senator Andrew Brenner, State Reps. Rick Carfagna and Kris Jordan, as well as District Superintendent Mark Raiff and District Treasurer Emily Hatfield. The group discussed the state's current school funding status as well as an update on the status of the Fair State Funding Plan.
- View the event Presentation
School Funding Virtual Public Forum Q&A
- Question: Senator Brenner - Can the Senate support a new school funding formula? If not, what do you have planned that will benefit our school district?
- Question: I have heard that the current funding formula is not constitutional. If that is the case, is it possible to take legal action to sue for damages?
- Question: What indications do you have from the governor that whatever he is presented with will be signed?
- Question: What can the community do to ensure that HB1 is passed this time and signed by the Governor?
- Question: How does the Jon Peterson scholarship effect what public schools receive?
- Question: How can the district coordinate an effort amongst the parents to voice our concerns to the governor about how Olentangy schools are being unfairly funded? It seems as if he needs to hear our collective voices.
- Question: Why did Gov. Kasich and Gov. DeWine veto?
- Question: Would Senate Bill 111 provide any funds to Olentangy?
- Question: In SB 111, which Sen. Brenner has cosponsored, 18.5% of funding is going to private schools, although those schools only educate about 9% of all students in Ohio. Why wouldn't more of the funds go to our public schools?
Question: Senator Brenner - Can the Senate support a new school funding formula? If not, what do you have planned that will benefit our school district?
Question: I have heard that the current funding formula is not constitutional. If that is the case, is it possible to take legal action to sue for damages?
Question: What indications do you have from the governor that whatever he is presented with will be signed?
Question: What can the community do to ensure that HB1 is passed this time and signed by the Governor?
Question: How does the Jon Peterson scholarship effect what public schools receive?
Question: How can the district coordinate an effort amongst the parents to voice our concerns to the governor about how Olentangy schools are being unfairly funded? It seems as if he needs to hear our collective voices.
Question: Why did Gov. Kasich and Gov. DeWine veto?
Question: Would Senate Bill 111 provide any funds to Olentangy?
Question: In SB 111, which Sen. Brenner has cosponsored, 18.5% of funding is going to private schools, although those schools only educate about 9% of all students in Ohio. Why wouldn't more of the funds go to our public schools?
Updated 11-6-2020
Senators Peggy Lehner and Vernon Sykes introduce SB 376, a companion bill to substitute HB 305- the Fair School Funding Plan. The Senate bill and substitute HB 305 are identical, thus allowing for hearings to occur simultaneously in both the House and Senate.
Testimony in both legislative branches are expected to begin in the next week or two. Hearings may be viewed on www.ohiochannel.org.
Additional information regarding the details of the Fair School Funding Plan are available at https://sites.google.com/view/ohiofairschoolfunding.
We encourage you to contact your legislators regarding this very important matter. Your legislators may be found at http://webapp2.ode.state.oh.us/legislator/search/.
One of the most critical factors in Olentangy Schools’ continued success is the ability to receive fair funding from the state. All residents are strongly encouraged to learn more about how the state funds our schools, specifically Olentangy. The two links below outline the State of Ohio’s budget process and a recent proposal to change how the state funds schools.