Photo: Rabbi Yitz Frank, Executive Director of Agudath Israel of Ohio with Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman. (Photo Credits: Agudath Israel of America Electronic Archives)
Yesterday, the Ohio Senate’s Finance Committee adopted a substitute version of H.B. 110, the state’s biennial operating budget. Welcomed by families and education advocates alike, the substitute bill included several key provisions:
- Increases the maximum value of EdChoice and Cleveland Scholarships from the current $4650 to $5,500 per pupil for grades K-8 and from $6000 to $7,500 per pupil for grades 9-12.
- Clarifies scholarship eligibility to include students entering 9th grade and siblings of current scholarship students.
- Eliminates deductions from districts’ state aid and instead directly funds all scholarship programs and charter schools.
- Creates a scholarship granting organization designation to any non-profit (religious or secular) that primarily awards academic scholarships for primary and secondary school students, and allows a 100% tax credit to donors up to $1000;
- The current minimum of $250 for payments in lieu of transportation now becomes the lesser of $2,500 or 50% of the cost identified by the district for transporting a nonpublic student.
- Retains Executive and House language allowing for auxiliary services payments to be made directly to religious schools.
The Senate also introduced a new school funding formula. The formula focuses on students and teachers, funding a 20-1 student teacher ratio.
Executive Director of Agudath Israel of Ohio, Rabbi Yitz Frank, praised the Senate’s version of the state’s biennial operating budget. “It is exciting to see Ohio increase its commitment to underserved families and students. These changes will increase opportunities for students across Ohio, allowing them to attend a school that works for them. We applaud the leadership shown by the Ohio Senate.”