Saturday Stats

$3B+: Amount of annual federal funding Ohio schools rely on to help meet the needs of every student. Much of those funds are administered by the U.S. Dept. of Education, which President Trump has ordered dismantled. As Hannah Halbert notes in her recent brief, he cannot eliminate a congressionally created agency, but that won’t stop him from acting unilaterally to disrupt its ability to carry out its obligations.

$330B: Amount of spending cuts the House Education and Workforce Committee is looking to make, to partially offset the cost of a $4.5 trillion tax-cut package that overwhelmingly benefits the wealthiest in the nation. That virtually guarantees large cuts to federal education spending. Hannah’s brief also includes factsheets showing how crucial federal funding is to each district.

3.2M: Number of Ohioans who get the healthcare they need through Medicaid. (That includes 1.3 million children.) If you’re making calls to your representatives, don’t neglect the ones in D.C.! Let them know we’re opposed to any cuts to Medicaid—whatever form they take. Kathryn Poe’s brief includes enrollment data by congressional district, so you can say cool things like, “Congressman Joyce, the people of District 14 — especially the 176,451 people who use Medicaid — are counting on you to stand up to this administration’s attacks on public services.”

$360K: Annual income below which Americans will, on average, see a tax increase under the Trump tax plan that’s being partially paid for with the above-described cuts to healthcare and education, according to analysis from our friends at the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

150+: Number of grassroots leaders from around Ohio who gathered in Columbus this week for Ohio Organizing Collaborative’s lobby day, a celebration of the people’s power. Leaders met with their elected officials to advocate for their priorities, which are all part of the People’s Budget, one of the many campaigns on which we’re proud to collaborate with OOC.

2K: Number of times people have visited our collection of factsheets that show how individual school districts will be harmed by funding cuts in Gov. DeWine’s budget proposal. Some folks asked for those numbers for their legislative districts too — and we’re happy to oblige! Now, when you call your state Representative and state Senator to tell them to fairly fund our schools, you can tell them exactly how much damage could be done to public education in the areas they represent.

$3.8B: Amount of revenue Ohio could raise by implementing our six-point tax plan. That is enough to pay for all the additional investments in education and public services we recommend for the next state budget. Zach Schiller pointed this out in his written testimony to the House Finance Committee last week, though he was cut off before he could say that part in person. To be fair, it had been a long day for everyone, and the committee members were getting cranky. (Watch to the end of Zach’s testimony to see what we mean…) To keep up with the ongoing discussion of Ohio’s budget and how to make it work for everyone, check out r/OhioBudget!

Policy Matters has been fighting for Ohio’s public schools since our inception, in part by reporting on where state funding for K-12 education is being spent. The Cleveland voucher program that began in 1996 was the first in the nation to provide public money for private, religious school tuition. Early analysis of the program by Policy Matters looked at both Where the Students Come From and Where the Students Go. Challenging the claims of voucher proponents that Cleveland school vouchers are an “escape hatch” for students not served by the public schools, our research found that in 2000-2001, only 21% of voucher students previously attended Cleveland Municipal School District schools. However, at least 39% of students receiving aid came from a private school background. That same year, 99.4% of voucher students attended religious schools.

Watchlist

Ohio’s 136th General Assembly is in session and we’re keeping tabs on the good, bad, and ugly legislation our elected representatives in Columbus are working on. Here are three to watch. For our full list, visit our website. Please call or email your state legislators and tell them to support, oppose, or amend these bills. 

HB 57: This bipartisan bill would require that schools implement a plan for the distribution of Narcan in public schools, improving access to this life-saving medication. It is a good bill and we support it.

HB 96, the state budget, is still in the House. It’s the main way the state funds public services, and it should include the priorities we describe in our budget platform and our new tax platform.Visit our Ohio Budget Project page for resources, analysis, and testimony from PMO staff!

SB 50, which would loosen Ohio’s child labor laws, passed the Senate Workforce Development committee 4-2. It is now before the Senate Rules and Reference Committee, which must approve the bill before it goes to the full Senate for a vote. See our note on SB 50 for more on why the legislature should shut this one down.

Action items

Sign on to the People’s Budget to show your support for a future where our schools, healthcare, and communities are fully supported and equitable.

Tell your state legislators to protect education for all kids!

Join Ohio Federation of Teachers’ letter-writing campaign to resist federal attacks on students, schools, and education.

Get tickets for showing Driver at the Cleveland Film Festival, showing Sunday, March 30 at 9:30am and Monday, March 31 at 7:40pm. We’re proud to be a community partner for this documentary about women who are long-haul truckers. Use the code POLICY at checkout to get $1 off each ticket! 

Attend “Fair Chance, Bright Future: Removing Workforce Barriers,” a panel discussion and Q&A session. Part of Cuyahoga County’s Reentry Month 2025. April 7th at 9 AM. Learn more and register here.