Public education in Ohio

in Ohio

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K-12 education in Ohio

Education facts

State superintendent: Stephanie K. Siddens

Number of students: 1,729,916

Number of teachers: 106,000

Teacher/pupil ratio: 1:16

Number of school districts: 608[1]

Number of schools: 3,685

Graduation rate: 82.2%

Per-pupil spending: $11,197

See also

Ohio Department of Education • List of school districts in Ohio • Ohio • School boards portal

Public education in the United States Public education in Ohio Glossary of education terms

Note: The statistics on this page are mainly from government sources, including the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics. Figures given are the most recent as of June 2015, with school years noted in the text or footnotes.

The Ohio public school system (prekindergarten through grade 12) operates within districts governed by locally elected school boards and superintendents. In 2013 Ohio had 1,729,916 students enrolled in a total of 3,685 schools in 1,093 school districts. There were 106,000 teachers in the public schools, or roughly one teacher for every 16 students, compared to the national average of 1:16. There was roughly one administrator for every 332 students, compared to the national average of one administrator for every 295 students. On average Ohio spent $11,197 per pupil in 2013, which ranked it 19th highest in the nation. The state's graduation rate was 82.2 percent in 2013.^[2][3][4]

Common Core[edit]

Common Core, or the Common Core State Standards Initiative, is an American education initiative that outlines quantifiable benchmarks in English and mathematics at each grade level from kindergarten through high school. The Ohio State Board of Education adopted the standards on June 18, 2010. Full implementation took place during the 2013-2014 academic year.^[5][6]

A bill was passed through the Rules and Reference Committee of the Ohio House of Representatives during November of 2014 that would have repealed Common Core standards in the state of Ohio. The bill later died before going to a vote, but it was agreed by both sides that the issue would likely resurface. This bill was preceded by at least two previous attempts to repeal Common Core in Ohio: HB 237 in 2013 and HB 597 in 2014.^{[7][8][9][10][11]}

In March 2015 the Ohio State Senate passed an amended bill seeking to ban the use of test scores to keep students from getting promoted to the next grade or receiving class credit. The original bill was unanimously approved by the Ohio House of Representatives in February of 2015.^[12][13][14]

In July of 2015 the Ohio Department of Education chose the American Institutes for Research (AIR) as its new Common Core testing provider, after Gov. John Kasich (R) signed a bill banning the state from spending any more money on Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) Common Core testing. AIR provided Ohio's science and social studies tests for the 2014-2015 school year and was to continue providing those in addition to the Common Core-aligned math and language arts tests for the 2015-2016 school year.^[15][16]

General information[edit]

See also: General comparison table for education statistics in the 50 states and Education spending per pupil in all 50 states

The following chart shows how Ohio compared to three neighboring states with respect to the number of students, schools, teachers per pupil and administrators per pupil for the 2012-2013 school year. The chart also displays that information at the national level. During the 2012-2013 school year, Ohio had the largest total number of schools when compared to surrounding states. However, Pennsylvania had about 30,000 more students during that year.

Further comparisons between these states with respect to performance and financial information are given in other sections of this page.

Schools by type[edit]

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School board elections portal Glossary of education terms School choice on the ballot Education on the ballot

See also: Number of schools by school type in the United States

Of the 98,454 schools in the United States, 89,031 were classified as regular schools. After regular schools, magnet schools and charter schools were the most prevalent non-traditional schools in the country, at 6,079 and 5,986, respectively.

The table below breaks down each of the different types of schools in Ohio and nearby states. Also listed are the numbers of schools in each state that are classified as "Title I" schools. These are public schools that have been specially targeted to correct achievement gaps in public schools.^[17]

In Ohio, there were 3,555 regular schools as of 2013. Charter schools were the second most prevalent type of school in the state, with 368 schools classified as such.

Demographics[edit]

See also: Demographic information for all students in all 50 states

The following table displays the ethnic distribution of students in Ohio as reported in the National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data for 2012-2013.^[18]

During the 2012-2013 school year, just over half of all students in K-12 public schools nationwide were white. About a quarter of the students in the country were Hispanic, with black students making up about 16 percent of the student population.

In Ohio, the majority of students were white. White students totaled 1,267,331, which was about 73.3 percent of the student population in the state. There were 279,663 black students in the state, accounting for about 16.2 percent of the student population.

Enrollments by region type[edit]

See also: Student distribution by region type in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, about 30 percent of all public school students in the country attended city schools during the 2012-2013 school year. About 40 percent attended suburban schools. Approximately 11.5 percent of all students attended schools in towns, while about 18.7 percent attended rural schools.^[19]

A plurality of students in Ohio attended suburban schools during the 2012-2013 school year. Approximately 64.4 percent of the state's students attended city or suburban schools, compared to the approximately 35.7 percent who attended rural or town schools.

Academic performance[edit]

Education terms
For more information on education policy terms, see this article.
School board elections portal Glossary of education terms School choice on the ballot Education on the ballot

NAEP scores[edit]

See also: NAEP scores by state

The National Center for Education Statistics provides state-by-state data on student achievement levels in mathematics and reading in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The table below presents the percentage of fourth and eighth grade students that scored at or above proficient in reading and math during school year 2012-2013. Compared to three neighboring states (Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania), Ohio had the second highest share of eighth graders who scored at or above proficient in reading.^[20]

Graduation, ACT and SAT scores[edit]

See also: Graduation rates by groups in state and ACT and SAT scores in the United States

The following table shows the graduation rates and average composite ACT and SAT scores for Ohio and surrounding states during the 2012-2013 school year. All statements made in this section refer to that school year.^[20][21][22]

In the United States, public schools reported graduation rates that averaged to about 81.4 percent. About 54 percent of all students in the country took the ACT, while 50 percent reported taking the SAT. The average national composite scores for those tests were 20.9 out of a possible 36 for the ACT, and 1498 out of a possible 2400 for the SAT.^[23]

Ohio schools reported a graduation rate of 82.2 percent, second lowest among its neighboring states.

In Ohio, more students took the ACT than the SAT, earning an average ACT score of 21.8.

Dropout rate[edit]

See also: Public high school dropout rates by state for a full comparison of dropout rates by group in all states

The high school event dropout rate indicates the proportion of students who were enrolled at some time during the school year and were expected to be enrolled in grades nine through 12 in the following school year but were not enrolled by October 1 of the following school year. Students who have graduated, transferred to another school, died, moved to another country, or who are out of school due to illness are not considered dropouts. The average public high school event dropout rate for the United States remained constant at 3.3 percent for both school year 2010–2011 and school year 2011–2012. The event dropout rate for Ohio was higher than the national average at 4.4 percent in the 2010-2011 school year, and 4.6 percent in the 2011-2012 school year.^[24]

Educational choice options[edit]

See also: School choice in Ohio

School choice options in Ohio include charter schools, voucher programs, intra-district and inter-district open enrollment policies and online learning programs. In addition, about 11.3 percent of school-age children in the state attended private schools in the 2011-2012 academic year, and an estimated 2.7 percent were homeschooled in 2012-2013.

Developments[edit]

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue (2020)[edit]

Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue
Media coverage and commentary
U.S. Supreme Court 2019-2020 term
Blaine Amendment (U.S. Constitution)
Blaine amendments in state constitutions
School choice on the ballot
Education on the ballot

See also: Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue

On June 30, 2020, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, which concerned whether the government can exclude religious institutions from student-aid programs. The case related to Article X, Section 6 of the Montana Constitution, also known as Montana’s Blaine Amendment.^[25]

In its 5-4 opinion, the court held that the application of Article X, Section 6 violated the free exercise clause of the U.S. Constitution. The majority held Article X, Section 6 barred religious schools and parents who wished to send their children to those schools from receiving public benefits because of the religious character of the school.^[26]

The case addressed the tension between the free exercise and Establishment clauses of the U.S. Constitution—where one guarantees the right of individuals' free exercise of religion and the other guarantees that the state won't establish a religion—and the intersections of state constitutions with state law and with the U.S. Constitution.

Ohio is not one of the states with a Blaine Amendment.

Education funding and expenditures[edit]

See also: Ohio state budget and finances

Breakdown of expenditures by function in fiscal year 2013
Source: National Association of State Budget Officers

According to the National Association of State Budget Officers (NASBO), states spent an average of 19.8 percent of their total budgets on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. In addition, the United States Census Bureau found that approximately 45.6 percent of the country's school system revenue came from state sources, while about 45.3 percent came from local sources. The remaining portion of school system revenue came from federal sources.^[27][28]

Ohio spent approximately 17 percent of its budget on elementary and secondary education during fiscal year 2013. School system revenue came primarily from local funds. Ohio spent the second lowest as a percentage of its total budget on public education when compared to its neighboring states.

Revenue breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system revenues in the U.S. to compare all states.

According to the United States Census Bureau, public school system revenues totaled approximately $598 billion in fiscal year 2013.^[28]

In Ohio, the primary source of school system revenue was local funding during fiscal year 2013, at $11 billion. Ohio reported the second highest total public education revenue when compared to its neighboring states.

Expenditure breakdowns[edit]

See also: Public school system expenditures in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, public school system expenditures totaled approximately $602 billion in fiscal year 2012.^[29]

Public education expenditures in Ohio totaled approximately $23.2 billion in fiscal year 2012. Ohio reported the second highest total public education expenditures when compared to its neighboring states.

Personnel salaries[edit]

See also: Public school teacher salaries in the United States

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the average national salary for classroom teachers in public elementary and secondary schools declined by 1.3 percent from the 1999-2000 school year to the 2012-2013 school year. During the same period in Ohio, the average salary increased by 2.6 percent.^[31]

Organizations[edit]

State agencies[edit]

See also: Ohio Department of Education

The Ohio Department of Education manages the state's public education system. Specific responsibilities include^[32]

• "Administering the school funding system"
• "Collecting school fiscal and performance data"
• "Developing academic standards and model curricula"
• "Administering the state achievement tests"
• "Issuing district and school report cards"
• "Administering Ohio’s voucher programs"
• "Providing professional development"
• "Licensing teachers, administrators, treasurers, superintendents and other education personnel"

The Superintendent of Public Instruction is the chief administrator of the Department of Education. The Superintendent of Public Instruction is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the State Board of Education. Paolo DeMaria was sworn in to the position in 2016.^[33]

The State Board of Education sets K-12 education policy in Ohio. The board's vision statement reads:^[34]

The board is composed of 19 members, 11 of whom are elected by district and eight of whom are appointed to serve at large by the governor.^[34]

Unions[edit]

In 2012 the Fordham Institute and Education Reform Now assessed the power and influence of state teacher unions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Their rankings were based on 37 different variables in five broad areas: resources and membership, involvement in politics, scope of bargaining, state policies and perceived influence. Ohio ranked 12th overall for union power and influence, or "strong," which was in the second of five tiers.^[36]

The main unions related to the Ohio school system are the Ohio Education Association (OHEA), an affiliate of the National Education Association (NEA), and the Ohio Federation of Teachers, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers. For the 2003 tax period OHEA had: $50.9 million in total revenue, $46.9 million in total expenses and $43.78 million in total assets.^[37] For the 2003 tax period Ohio Federation of Teachers had: $1.11 million in total revenue, $974,268 in total expenses and $1.24 million in total assets.^[38]

List of local Ohio school unions:^[39]

• Ohio Education Association
• Ohio Federation of Teachers
• Cleveland Heights Teachers Union
• Cincinnati Federation of Teachers
• Columbus Education Association
• Southwestern Ohio Education Association
• Akron Education Association

Taxpayer-funded lobbying[edit]

See also: Ohio government sector lobbying

The main education government sector lobbying organization is the Ohio School Boards Association.

Transparency[edit]

In the 2007-2008 General Assembly regular session, the legislature approved House Bill 420, which proposed making statewide expenditures available on an online spending database.^[40]

Studies and reports[edit]

Quality Counts 2014[edit]

See also: Education Week survey

Education Week, a publication that reports on many education issues throughout the country, began using an evaluation system in 1997 to grade each state on various elements of education performance. This system, called Quality Counts, uses official data on performance from each state to generate report cards for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report card in 2014 uses six different categories:

1. Chance for success
2. K-12 achievement
3. Standards, assessments and accountability
4. The teaching profession
5. School finance
6. Transitions and alignment

Each of these six categories had a number of other elements that received individual scores. Those scores were then averaged and used to determine the final score in each category. Every state received two types of scores for each of the six major categories: A numerical score out of 100 and a letter grade based on that score. Education Week used the score for the first category, "chance for success," as the value for ranking each state and the District of Columbia. The average grade received in the entire country was 77.3, or a C+ average. The country's highest average score was in the category of "standards, assessments and accountability" at 85.3, or a B average. The lowest average score was in "K-12 achievement", at 70.2, or a C- average.

Ohio received a score of 78.6, or a C+ average in the "chance for success" category. This was above the national average. The state's highest score was in "standards, assessments and accountability" at 96.1, or an A average. The lowest score was in "K-12 achievement" at 71.3, or a C- average. Ohio had the fourth highest score in the "standards, assessments and accountability" category in the country. The chart below displays the scores of Ohio and its surrounding states.^[41]

Note: Click on a column heading to sort the data.

State Budget Solutions education study[edit]

See also: State spending on education v. academic performance (2012)

State Budget Solutions examined national trends in education from 2009 to 2011, including state-by-state analysis of education spending, graduation rates and average ACT scores. The study showed that the states that spent the most did not have the highest average ACT test scores, nor did they have the highest average graduation rates. A summary of the study is available here. The full report can be accessed here.

School districts[edit]

See also: School board elections portal

District types[edit]

Ohio has a number of different types of school districts, including:^[42]

• City school districts
• Local school districts
• Exempted village school districts
• Joint vocational school districts

City, local and exempted village school districts are governed by elected school boards with the power to levy taxes and issue bonds with voter approval. Joint vocational school districts are established by two or more regular school districts. The joint vocational school district board can either be governed by members from the participating school districts' boards or, if it located within one county, by the county's educational service center board.^[42]

School board composition[edit]

School board members are most often elected to their positions, although there are some cases, such as a vacancy on a board, in which a member will be appointed to the position.^[42] Most school boards have five members, but larger school districts have seven. They are elected during odd-numbered years, and serve four-year terms. The terms are staggered so that nearly half of the members are up for election each election year.^[43]

Term limits[edit]

Ohio does not impose statewide term limits on school boards.^[44]

Elections[edit]

See also: Ohio school board elections, 2021

Editor's note: Some school districts choose to cancel the primary election, or both the primary and general election, if the number of candidates who filed does not meet a certain threshold. The table below does not reflect which primary or general elections were canceled. Please click through to each school district's page for more information.

Path to the ballot[edit]

In order to qualify as a school board candidate in Ohio, an individual must be:

• A U.S. citizen
• At least 18 years old
• A resident of the state and the corresponding school district for at least 30 days before the election
• A registered voter in the school district the candidate seeks to represent

To get on the ballot, a school board candidate must file a petition by the 90th day prior to the election with the local board of elections and pay a filing fee.^[43][45]

Campaign finance[edit]

Candidates must file itemized statements disclosing campaign contributions and expenditures. In addition to that, any member or candidate of a school board that has 12,000 or more students enrolled in the school district must file an annual financial disclosure statement with the Ohio Ethics Commission. This statement is due by April 15 each year for members not up for election and due 30 days before the election for those running, both new candidates and incumbents.^[43]

Recent legislation[edit]

The following is a list of recent education bills that have been introduced in or passed by the Ohio state legislature. To learn more about each of these bills, click the bill title. This information is provided by BillTrack50 and LegiScan.

Note: Due to the nature of the sorting process used to generate this list, some results may not be relevant to the topic. If no bills are displayed below, no legislation pertaining to this topic has been introduced in the legislature recently.

Education ballot measures[edit]

See also: Education on the ballot and List of Ohio ballot measures

Ballotpedia has tracked the following statewide ballot measures relating to education.

1. Ohio Boards of Education Organization, Amendment 27 (September 1912)
2. Ohio Bonds for Education, Amendment 1 (1999)
3. Ohio Casino Gambling, Amendment 3 (2006)
4. Ohio Higher Education Loans, Amendment 1 (May 1965)
5. Ohio Lottery Proceeds for Education, Amendment 1 (1987)
6. Ohio Opportunities for Higher Education, Amendment 3 (1994)
7. Ohio Sales Tax Increase, Issue 2 (May 1998)
8. Ohio School Bonds, Amendment 1 (May 1998)
9. Ohio State Board of Education, Amendment 1 (1939)
10. Ohio State Board of Education, Amendment 2 (1953)
11. Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction, Amendment 28 (September 1912)
12. Ohio Tax Increase for School Foundation Program, Initiative 1 (1965)

In the news[edit]

The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Ohio education policy. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.

See also[edit]

• Historical public education information in Ohio
• Ohio state budget and finances
• Ohio Department of Education
• List of school districts in Ohio
• School choice in Ohio
• Charter schools in Ohio
• Ohio
• Education Policy in the U.S.

External links[edit]

• Ohio Department of Education
  • School funding
  • Open enrollment
  • Non-chartered non-tax schools
  • Accountability resources
• Ohio State Board of Education
• Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction

Footnotes[edit]

	v • e State of Ohio Columbus (capital)
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