Ohio’s public schools should be excellent from pre-K through college, and equitably funded whether rural, urban, or suburban. Pathways to good union jobs should begin with world-class training & apprenticeships that are accessible to every Ohioan. Higher education should be affordable for everyone, no matter their race or income.
Ohio schools depend on the real property tax. Some 247 of the state’s 606 districts[1] rely on the tax for at least 40% of their operating expenses. This is a key reason why the proposed property tax repeal, with no replacement revenue, is misguided and destructive. Policy Matters Ohio compared
Child care families and providers need policy based on facts, not social media trends Lawmakers in the Ohio House reacted to a wave of online misinformation[1] about “child care fraud” by introducing two misguided bills that will increase surveillance of children and child care providers, and give parents no mechanism
State payments should work the same as private pay Across Ohio, parents who pay out-of-pocket for child care almost always pay ahead. For example, payment for the month of February is due on February 1st. They also pay based on enrollment, not attendance: They pay the same amount every month,
Legislature again fails to address root causes of the state’s worsening child care crisis UPDATE (Jan. 5, 2026): Ohio legislators made some of the positive changes described below because they were required by the federal government, which provides most of the funding for child care in Ohio. But now, federal
Testimony to the Senate Local Government Committee on House Bill 309 Chair O’Brien, Ranking Member Smith and members of the Senate Local Government Committee: Thank you for the opportunity to testify on House Bill 309. I am Zach Schiller, research director of Policy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit research institute with
Great public education isn’t cheap, but Ohio spends far more on tax breaks for the wealthy and corporations Download the factsheet Every child deserves a supportive, well-resourced learning environment where they can thrive. In Ohio, access to high-quality education too often depends on where a child lives, their race, or
UPDATE: September 8, 2025:We’ve updated our analysis based on the latest available data. Current data and analysis are available here. Lawmakers underfund Ohio schools by $2.86B in FY26-27; Veto overrides risk another $330M Learn how Ohio lawmakers’ funding choices will impact your district. [Click here to access the July 2025
Senate gives a billion-dollar annual tax break to Ohioans earning six figures, underfunds schools by $2.74 billion, and leaves behind students with the most need Note: Analysis and resources linked on this page were correct at the time of publication. They may now be out-of-date. Our most current statewide analysis
To be effective, property tax relief policy must actually reach the taxpayers who need it, while protecting the schools, libraries, local governments, and other entities that rely on property tax revenue to pay for their vital public services. Many communities in Ohio have seen historic rises in property values coming
Chair Young, Vice Chair Ritter, Ranking Member Piccolantonio and members of the House Workforce and Higher Education Committee. We are Kate Sopko and Piet van Lier, representing Policy Matters Ohio, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research organization creating a more vibrant, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive Ohio. Thank you for the opportunity to
Hello Chair Manchester, Vice-Chair Brenner, Ranking Member Weinstein, members of the Senate Government Oversight and Reform Committee. My name is Bailey Williams, and I am a tax policy researcher at Policy Matters Ohio, a nonprofit, nonpartisan research organization with the mission of creating a more vibrant, equitable, sustainable, and inclusive
Federal cuts and the Ohio House threaten special education services Schools depend on Medicaid funding to support in-school health services for Medicaid-enrolled students with disabilities. The Ohio Medicaid School Program (MSP) helps ensure schools can provide students with services required by their Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), including speech therapy, physical
