See which federal funds your district relies on. Ohio’s public schools rely on more than $3 billion[1] in federal funding a year to help meet the needs of every student — including the 1 in 6 public school students who have disabilities[2] — pay for school meals, train educators, and
If public school opponents have their way, Ohio’s public districts will lose $103,388,457 in foundation formula funding over the next two years, including $95,097,368 in cuts to special education funding.[1] See if your district is among the 349 that will see a funding cut. All Ohio kids should be able
Testimony to the House Education Committee on H.B. 96 Chair Fowler Arthur, Vice Chair Odioso, Ranking Member Robinson and members of the House Education Committee. My name is Hannah Halbert and I am the executive director of Policy Matters Ohio, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization building a more vibrant, equitable,
Federal grant dollars provide critical public services for everyday Ohioans The Trump administration announced on Jan. 27, 2025, that it would temporarily pause federal grant, loan, and other financial assistance programs. This would have enormous ripple effects in Ohio and elsewhere. A federal judge the following day temporarily blocked the policy, averting
This piece was previously published on Crain’s Cleveland Business and is reprinted here with permission. Education shapes the opportunities available to young people, as well as the well-being of all our communities. Every child, no matter their background or where they live, deserves access to a high-quality education. Without it, we cannot
Median pay ratio up again in 2023 Fifty of Ohio’s largest employers paid their CEOs a median of 308 times as much as their typical employees last year, according to Policy Matters Ohio’s analysis of filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. At the median these CEOs — heads of publicly
A note from our Executive Director Dear Friends, This is a difficult time for anyone who believes that government can be a force for good. Many Ohioans — including some of our own family members, neighbors, and friends — used their vote to voice their cynicism about ever reclaiming the
$2,112: Per-pupil funding provided by the state for students in Upper Arlington’s public schools last school year. $8,408: Per-pupil value of a private-school tuition voucher provided by the state through the publicly-funded EdChoice Expansion program for a student in grades 9-12. Summer intern and UA schools alum Elena Reim digs into
24: Number of consecutive Labor Days we’ve celebrated with the release of our report on the State of Working Ohio. This year we’re releasing SOWO at the start of the long weekend. That way, you can prepare for conversation at your Labor Day cookout by brushing up on your knowledge of Labor Force
In 2023, Ohio experienced the largest annual increase in typical wages in decades. Unlike prior recoveries, the greatest percentage increases went to the lowest paid workers in the state. Unemployment hit record lows and remained consistently under 4%. Ohio gained jobs, reaching numbers not seen since the 2001 recession. Visit
This piece was previously published on Cleveland.com and is reprinted here with permission. Every year, Policy Matters Ohio examines how well the economy is working for working Ohioans. On paper, employment and wages in 2023 were better than they have been in a long time. But how the economy looks on paper
The wealthy need to pay their share toward fair school funding
This article originally appeared on Cleveland.com and is reprinted here with permission. Ohioans know that by fully and fairly funding our public schools we can prepare our kids and our state for an uncertain future. It’s why we’ve fought for and won long-term changes to Ohio’s school funding formula and