Every two years, Ohio’s Governor proposes a state budget for the legislature to consider and change. The State budget is the largest statewide plan to delegate funding toward all of the public resources that benefit our communities. One of the biggest services the State budget supports is public K-12 education. After a brief extension of the June 30th deadline, the Ohio House and Senate finally passed a two-year state budget recently signed by Governor Mike DeWine. Several disputed measures on this bill concerned changes to public education that impact all public schools in Cleveland. This is an overview of what some of these measures were and how they might influence the future of public education in Cleveland.

The first outcome of the state budget is an increase in statewide school funding to $10.5 billion yearly. This increase comes after a decades-long dispute regarding the fairness of previous primarily property-tax-based funding methods, which left children in poorer neighborhoods at a disadvantage because they had less local revenue to contribute to their schools. This explanation is simplified, but generally, the all-around increase in state revenue will continue to level the playing field, giving schools more resources to improve their performance and ultimately the education our children receive.

The next addition to the budget that will affect education is an expansion of the private school voucher program, better known as EdChoice. The controversial EdChoice program is a statewide expansion of Cleveland’s 1996 school voucher program. It initially allowed students from public schools deemed “failing” by the state to attend participating private schools. This budget will expand it to be accessible to all families in Ohio below a certain household income. This provision will increase the funding of this program to $2 billion, and make it so that all families can apply for private school vouchers, not just ones below a certain income level. This expansion of the EdChoice voucher program will remove all income barriers. However, families with incomes over $135,000 for a family of four will receive a smaller stipend on a sliding scale. As well as EdChoice, Ohio has a voucher program for students with special needs, granting them scholarships to participating schools that may better meet their needs than a traditional public-school setting.

The EdChoice program remains highly controversial. Its theoretical purpose of giving low-income families expanded options is commendable, but it’s unclear whether its use in practice will serve this goal. Many advocates in the education field argue that simply giving more funding to public schools in the first place would ensure that all families have public access to quality education right in their neighborhood, and wouldn’t need to seek out alternatives. The expansion of the EdChoice program does not include additional oversight of the recipient private school either.  A larger concern for many is that while public schools are scored and rated based on their academic outcomes, there is no similar rating or scoring associated with the influx of public funds these schools will receive; leaving parents/caregivers without a clear path to making informed school decisions.

So, while there are competing opinions about the wins and losses on this year’s state budget, what is clear is that education is a highly salient issue, and we must keep it on the minds of politicians and all public decision-makers.

Although it was ultimately removed from the final version, SB 83 was included in one of the draft versions of the budget as it made its way through the legislative process. The “Enact Higher Education Act” would change what is able to be taught in higher education in both Cleveland and all public universities in Ohio. It would also ban cultural affinity groups within schools, as well as teachers’ unions in higher education, and make US history courses mandatory. This bill joins a plethora of largely right-wing attacks on “progressive” education, and while it would not have necessarily impacted public elementary and high schools, its passing would set an undeniable stance against certain facets of education, many of which honor minority students who already have challenges in these spaces. This provision was removed from the budget, but still awaits a vote in the Ohio House, and if it passes there, would be one step closer to going into effect. SB 83 aims to limit education and is not written with the best interests of students in mind. As parents, teachers, and advocates for education, it is important to stay informed on the progress of this bill and what it stands for.

If you’re looking for more information on how to decide on school choice for you or someone you know, you can visit the Cleveland Transformation Alliance’s website. Check out our School Finder Tool, an online search guide that matches families with their best school options based on their individual needs. Additionally, see the Family Cafe tab for archives of our latest events on pertinent issues. We have an upcoming Cafe on July 28th that will teach all new and returning families about public school options in Cleveland and how to navigate the numerous options. Join us at Hough Library to celebrate summer and start preparing for the fall with fun activities, food trucks, and the chance to connect with other families.

Lastly, I challenge everyone, whether you are a parent, student, or just a community member, to stay informed on current events affecting education in Ohio. Here at the Cleveland Transformation Alliance we believe in quality schools for all children, and our whole community plays a part in advocating for that.

Blog post written by Kendal Harris, CTA Summer 2023 Intern

Want to Learn More? Here’s a brief list of resources from local reporters and education advocates.
Ohio Budget 101 – Policy Matters Ohio
All About Ohio’s 2-Year Operating Budget – Ideastream Public Media
Ohio School Voucher Overview – Ohio Education Policy Institute
More About Ohio-s EdChoice Voucher Program – Cleveland.com
Ohio Education Budget – Ohio Capital Journal

With this past school year in our rearview mirrors, it is the perfect moment to reflect on our children’s experiences at school and consider their options for the future. For new families with children who will begin school in the fall, summer is an important opportunity to ensure they are prepared for this next step, and identifying options for the 2023-2024 school year may be a vital part of that. The school search process can quickly become overwhelming, so beginning now and equipping yourself with the right resources is extremely important. The Cleveland Transformation Alliance’s school finder tool allows families to find the best options for themselves based on individual needs. As well as adjusting for the kinds of programs and services your child needs, the tool provides you with schools’ progress and achievement levels based on data collected by the Ohio Department of Education. The tool streamlines what would usually be an intensive research process for parents to tackle. If a family prefers personalized support, they can also contact the CTA directly and connect to one of our school choice navigators, that can more closely assist you through the school selection and enrollment process.

As well as identifying the best school options, families should consider how they will prepare their kids to enter or return to the classroom. Summer is a time for fun and continued learning, and many experiences in our local communities can help supplement education. One place for this is the Cleveland Public Library. The library offers free programs for all ages, such as a Young Scholars Academy for kindergarten preparation and a test and career prep center for older students looking towards plans after high school. The Ohio Department of Education’s website offers readiness assessments for all grade levels, including early learners, if you want more concrete benchmarks. Aside from programs, there are more manageable day-to-day things that supplement your child’s learning. Emphasizing time spent reading, completing age-appropriate workbooks, and allowing opportunities for problem-solving are all simple ways to foster your child’s learning and curiosity through the summer. Lastly, the CTA recently hosted a Family Cafe on Kindergarten readiness. Our cafes offer peer-led discussions for families to learn from one another and ask questions, be sure to check our website for upcoming Cafes to engage with throughout the summer. We hope you all have a relaxing and fruitful summer full of learning opportunities, and the CTA is here to provide support as you prepare for the school year to come.

Blog by Kendal Harris, Summer 2023 CTA Intern

Kendal Harris is a rising third-year Morrill Scholar at The Ohio State University, dual majoring in Public Affairs and African American Studies. As a summer intern for the CTA, they are highly interested in building better futures and communities for underserved populations.

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On Tuesday, May 9, 2023, after an extensive process that spanned over six months, the Cleveland Metropolitan School District Board and Mayor Justin M. Bibb announced the next District Superintendent/CEO, Dr. Warren Morgan.

As was shared in a letter to the community from CMSD Board Chair Anne Bingham on April 20th, Dr. Warren Morgan grew up on Chicago’s South Side and attended schools with demographics similar to CMSD. He worked for CMSD as Network Leader for the District’s Phase 2 Investment schools from July 2014 through August 2016. In his current role as the Chief Academic Officer for Indianapolis Public Schools, Dr. Morgan oversees the academic vision, strategy, and policies of the district. Previously Executive Director of an education nonprofit in St. Louis, Dr. Morgan was a White House Fellow under U.S. Presidents Obama and Trump. He earned an Ed.D. in Urban Educational Leadership from the University of Illinois-Chicago.

Cleveland Transformation Alliance Executive Director, Meghann Marnecheck, was on hand to welcome Dr. Morgan back to Cleveland. “We are excited to be a part of the ‘passing of the baton’ to the next CEO,” said Marnecheck. “The strength of The Cleveland Plan for Transforming Schools is evident in the interest from school leaders across the country to become the next CEO. Navigating this leadership transition will further show the strength of the Plan. We are eager to continue the work and progress that has already been made since 2012 when The Cleveland Plan was approved.”

Thank you to outgoing CEO Eric Gordon for his passion, dedication, and giving of himself to all Cleveland students. Dr. Morgan has big shoes to fill, but we are confident he will rise to the challenge.

Read more from Ideastream: Warren Morgan will be the next Cleveland schools CEO

Our New Website is Here!

Visit myCLEschool.org to see our new look and find your child’s best-fit school.

We have launched an all-new website at mycleschool.org. The updated site includes easier-to-navigate web pages and a refreshed School Finder Tool with the latest information from Ohio’s School Report Cards.

“This has been a lot of work, but we hope the result is a better, faster, more accurate, and more informative website,” said executive director Meghann Marnecheck. “We want families to be able to make informed school choices. We have more planned for the future, but I’m really excited about what we have already released.” Our new site will allow families to search by academic outcomes, neighborhood, or compare schools. If a family is at the beginning of their process, they can click the “start here” button to answer a questionnaire to help find schools matching the criteria they are interested in finding.

“I hope families visit the site to explore our new features,” said Marnecheck. “Our staff is here to help if a family needs extra support through the process. Give us a call at 216.592.2303 or complete our family referral form to get personalized assistance.” Also in the works is a refreshed School Quality Guide for 2023. The updated Guide will feel more like a magazine and provide families with a printed piece for notes and quick reference that will complement the website’s School Finder Tool. Watch for news about the release of the Guide and where to find it in the coming weeks.