Isn’t there a court case that has ordered a change in the way Ohio funds public education?
Yes, this is the DeRolph Case. The Ohio Supreme Court ruled that Ohio’s funding of education is unconstitutional. The court ruled the state failed to provide sufficient funding to secure a “thorough and efficient” system of common schools. However, the legislature has not reformed state school funding but in fact has cut funding to public schools since the DeRolph rulings. Click to read more about the DeRolph Case. What about the Ohio Lottery? Doesn’t income from the lottery go to the schools? Unfortunately, funds generated from one source, such as the lottery, have allowed the legislature reduce funding of education from the general fund by an equal amount. There has never been a net gain to Ohio Public Schools generated by lottery revenues. That is why many Ohioans are skeptical about proposals to expand legalized gambling in Ohio on the premise that this will assist the schools and reduce the need to pass local levies. Click here to read more on this issue.
