A school funding overhaul that鈥檚 been in the works for five years passed the Ohio House by a huge margin and is on its way to the Senate. Supporters say it鈥檚 the first constitutional plan since the Ohio Supreme Court struck down school funding in 1997. But it might not get far.
Applause broke out in the House as the bill passed 87-9.
, was introduced last summer after discussions with stakeholders around the state in the spring. It uses 60% property values and 40% income to calculate a district鈥檚 state money.
Patterson said it also eliminates the caps and guarantees on state money in the current formula.
鈥淒o you realize that out of our 600 school districts we have over 500 that are either on the guarantee or on the cap?" Patterson said on the House floor. "And in anybody鈥檚 mathematical calculations, that is a formula that is not working."
The plan took months of reworking after school lobbying groups raised questions. But they praised this version as a constitutional proposal, and .
But this and , sponsored by Sen. Peggy Lehner (R-Kettering) and Sen. Vernon Sykes (D-Akron), face an uphill battle.
At least one Senator has raised concerns that if it鈥檚 fully funded, it's estimated it would already spent on schools.
