The Buckeye Institute recently expressed its support for Ohio's biennial budget, specifically highlighting its student-focused approach during a testimony before the Ohio Senate Education Committee. Greg R. Lawson, a research fellow at The Buckeye Institute, emphasized the importance of "funding students rather than systems" and praised several elements of the proposed budget.
Lawson commended the phase-out of funding guarantees that previously over-funded schools with declining enrollment, stating it would redirect resources to schools attended by students. He also highlighted an increase in per-student allocation for charter school capital costs and modifications allowing public school districts to sell under-used buildings to high-performing charter schools.
Lawson suggested further revisions to enhance the budget's impact on students and families. These included allowing all scholarship recipients, including those from EdChoice, to receive Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid (DPIA) aimed at assisting lower-income students. Additionally, he recommended limiting local governments' ability to restrict new charter and private schools from using existing buildings.
In his closing remarks, Lawson urged lawmakers to monitor and expand a pilot school transportation program designed to alleviate transportation burdens on school districts by enabling educational service centers to transport students enrolled in participating charter and private schools.
The Buckeye Institute continues advocating for policies prioritizing student needs and supporting broad-based school choice options.