A new report by Innovation Ohio shows that the $400 million in Medicaid expansion savings could have a dramatic impact on schools.
An analysis by Innovation Ohio shows Sen. Widener’s claim to be demonstrably false. To the contrary, the impact of an extra $400 million on Ohio schools would be dramatic and profound. Specifically:
- $400 million exceeds the total amount spent by the state on economically disadvantaged aid ($369 million)
$400 million is over 6 times more than what the state spends on K-3 literacy ($64 million)
$400 million is more than what the state spends on the Third-Grade Reading Guarantee, Gifted Education, Career Tech Education, Limited English Proficiency Education and half of the state's six Special Education categories ($399.7 million).
$400 million exceeds the entire amount spent by the state on school transportation ($357 million).
Indeed, the only education line items on which the state spends more than $400 million are Charter Schools, the state’s basic aid amount, targeted assistance (parity aid) and Special Education. Everything else gets less money.
What could the state do if it spent the $400 million on our schools?
- Double funding for Gifted, ELL, Career Tech and K-3 literacy funding.
Double funding for Transportation – while also nearly doubling funding for the Third-Grade Reading Guarantee.
Double the amount of economically disadvantaged funding.
Pay for All-Day Kindergarten or universal preschool in our most economically distressed areas
Triple the funding for the most profoundly challenged special needs children in the state
The report goes on to also note that rather than a measly $28 a year in income tax savings that a typical tax payer might receive, distributing an extra $400 million to Ohio school districts could also result in dramatic property tax reductions. The average district would receive the equivalent of 2.29 mills in property taxes – or about $80 per $100,000 home – if $400 million in new state money were distributed among districts.
Read the entire report below