Expanding Opportunity with a Better-Educated Workforce

Kevin is working hard to make sure kids have the tools they need to succeed in a changing world. Access to an affordable world-class education will help ensure opportunity for all of Ohio's children.

The Path to Progress

• Build New Schools for a Better and Safer Learning Environment. Keep funding the nation-leading Ohio School Facilities Program to upgrade existing facilities and build new schools.
• Fairer School Funding. Kevin Coughlin will continue to work to reduce the need for local levies to fund our schools. He'll also make sure that kids in poor school districts have the opportunities they need to succeed.
• Increase Accountability and Make Sure Education Dollars Are Spent in the Classroom. Demand results from all schools and ensure that precious education dollars go into the classroom and not into bureaucracy and paperwork. Encourage districts to share administrators and pool resources for health care and purchasing.
• Give Families Relief from Soaring Tuition Costs. Provide public colleges and universities with enough funds that they can keep tuition low for Ohio's students. Cap tuition increases and offer meaningful scholarships to Ohio-bound college students.
• Re-Think Higher Education. Make sure that Ohio's universities are meeting the needs of tomorrow's employers and leaders. Expand distance learning to provide an American degree to people throughout the world, using the revenue to build world-class on-campus learning.
• Invest in Community Colleges, Vocational, and Technical Education. Encourage and invest in life-long education and vocational and technical training for more Ohioans.
• The School That’s Best for Each Child. Grant scholarships to enable parents of gifted and special needs children to place them in the school that best fits their needs.

A Record of Progress

• When Kevin entered the legislature, Ohio ranked 48th in the country in school funding. Since then, funding for Ohio's schools has increased 72% Today, Ohio ranks 14th nationwide in public school expenditure per pupil.
• Since the DeRolph case was filed in 1991, state funding for k-12 education increased by over $4 billion. Most of that increase has happened over the last few years. The 2002-2003 State of Ohio Budget alone increased state funding by $1.4 billion. The 2004-2005 State of Ohio Budget increases state funding by another $402 million. The current budget for 2006-2007 increases state funding by another $247 million.
• The per pupil base cost has grown by over 78% in since the DeRolph case was filed ($2,710 in FY 1992, $5,403 in FY 2007). That's three times the rate of inflation.
• $6.5 billion has been appropriated for school construction and renovation. About $2 million is being spent every day in Ohio to build or renovate school buildings. That's the most aggressive school building/renovation program in the nation
• Over 411 new or renovated school buildings are in operation in Ohio, constructed or revamped with assistance from the state.
• Over 279 school districts have projects going on currently.
• Ohio has completely eliminated the funding gap between rich and poor school districts. When Kevin took office, Ohio's poorest school districts had an average of $667 less per student than affluent ones. Today, the average per-student spending in poor districts is over $50 higher than in affluent districts. Nationwide, average per-pupil spending in poor districts is $900 less than in affluent districts. Ohio is now ranked first in the nation in state aid to poor schools.
• Ohio ranks 5th in the nation in teachers who have earned national board certification.
• By almost every measure, students are doing better and learning more. Ohio's SAT verbal exam scores are 31% above the national average, 23% above the average for the math exam. Proficiency test scores have increased 17.1% over the last six years. 96% of Ohio's school districts have earned ratings of Excellent, Effective, or Continuous Improvement. The American Legislative Exchange Council Report Card on American Education ranks Ohio 14th in academic achievement.

"For anyone grounded in the real-world give and take of state politics and budgeting, Ohio has made remarkable improvements. Critics will continue to complain that Ohio has failed to fulfill the letter of the DeRolph rulings. But realists understand that the state has embraced its spirit."