Legislative Updates
The Springfield City School District operates in a dynamic and complex policy environment shaped by state fiscal conditions, federal actions, and evolving educational governance. Decisions made at the Ohio General Assembly, within the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (ODEW), and at the federal level have direct implications for classroom instruction, student safety, operational continuity, and fiscal sustainability.
This legislative advocacy agenda reflects a clear commitment to protecting local control, ensuring equitable funding, safeguarding instructional integrity, and maintaining safe, stable learning environments for all students. It is informed by current economic conditions, recent policy developments, and emerging legislative activity.
State Fiscal and Economic Context
Ohio enters 2026 with cautious economic optimism. State economists project continued consumer-led growth in the 2.0 to 2.5 percent range, positioning Ohio to weather potential economic volatility. At the same time, unemployment remains stable at 4.5 percent, slightly above the national average. These conditions underscore the importance of prudent, predictable state investments in public education rather than episodic or politically driven funding shifts.
Advocacy Position
Maintain stable, formula-based school funding that prioritizes high-need districts.
Avoid mid-biennium budget disruptions that create instability for districts serving economically disadvantaged students.
Protect funding streams that support English Learners, students experiencing homelessness, and students with disabilities.
Federal Education Policy and Equity
The U.S. Department of Education recently withdrew its appeal of a federal court ruling related to the enforcement of diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. While the legal landscape continues to evolve, this development highlights ongoing uncertainty around federal guidance on equity-based programming.
Advocacy Position
Support clear, consistent federal guidance that does not undermine local innovation or evidence-based practices.
Charter Schools and EdChoice Expansion
Interest in new state charter schools remains elevated, with 71 schools submitting applications in 2025 compared to 78 in 2024. This growth occurs alongside continued expansion of EdChoice vouchers, which diverts public dollars from traditional school districts without equivalent accountability requirements.
Advocacy Position
Require greater transparency and fiscal accountability for charter operators receiving public funds.
Implement guardrails that prevent further erosion of local district resources through unchecked voucher expansion.
Ensure that any charter authorization process includes meaningful community input and rigorous academic standards.
Legislative Activity and Governance
Severe winter weather delayed Senate committee hearings and disrupted legislative operations, highlighting the interconnected nature of public safety, infrastructure, and governance. At the same time, ongoing ethics complaints and high-profile policy debates underscore the need for integrity and transparency in state decision-making.
Advocacy Position
Promote ethical governance that prioritizes students and public institutions over private or corporate interests.
Encourage bipartisan collaboration on education policy rather than ideological polarization.
Public Safety, Transportation, and Infrastructure
Record-setting snowfall and extreme cold strained Ohio’s transportation systems, including salt supplies and roadway safety. For school districts, these conditions directly impact student transportation, attendance, and instructional time.
Advocacy Position
Support investments in transportation infrastructure that ensure safe travel for students and families.
Advocate for coordinated state and local emergency response planning that minimizes instructional disruption.
Local Government and Community Stability
Proposed legislation would lower the population threshold for large townships seeking incorporation, potentially reshaping local governance and tax bases. Such changes could have downstream effects on school district boundaries, revenue, and service delivery.
Advocacy Position
Ensure that any municipal restructuring considers its impact on public schools and community cohesion.
Protect district fiscal stability in the face of potential jurisdictional changes.
District Legislative Priorities at a Glance
Stable and equitable school funding aligned with student need.
Local control over curriculum and instructional practices.
Stronger charter accountability and responsible voucher policy.
Operational flexibility in calamity day requirements.
Safe transportation systems supported by robust state infrastructure investments.
Ethical, student-centered governance at all levels of government.
Ohio Schools for Balanced Property Tax Reform
Families across Ohio deserve relief from rising property taxes, and communities deserve strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and reliable public services. Achieving both is possible, but only if the responsibility is shared fairly among families, local governments, businesses, and the state.
The Springfield City School District recognizes that change is necessary, and our team is committed to being part of the solution. However, reforms must be balanced to protect both taxpayers and the future of public education.
What happened?
State Policy Shifts
Over time, state-level decisions have placed greater reliance on local property taxes to fund schools.School District Actions
Districts have already implemented consolidations, shared services, and efficiency measures to reduce costs while protecting student learning.Changing Tax Burden
The balance has shifted significantly: homeowners and farmers now pay nearly 70% of school property taxes, compared to just 47% in 1991. Businesses, by contrast, carry a far smaller share than they once did.Community Actions
Residents can play an important role by:Talking directly with legislators about the need for fair reform.
Informing teachers and staff about the impact of state policy changes.
Engaging neighbors and community members in conversations about equity.
Advocating for solutions that ensure schools remain strong and property tax reform is balanced.
Ohio Schools’ Commitments
Transparency
We will continue to be clear about where funding comes from and how it is spent, ensuring accountability to taxpayers.Empathy
Property taxes feel high because they are high—homeowners and farmers are paying more than ever before.Partnership
We support reforms that relieve families while also ensuring strong schools and safe, thriving communities.
Key Point
Unlike those who blame schools for rising property taxes, Ohio schools are allies of taxpayers. State-level tax policy changes have shifted the burden dramatically: homeowners and farmers now carry nearly 70% of the load—the highest in state history.
Balanced reform is necessary. Families deserve relief. Schools and communities deserve stability. Together, both are possible.
The Myth of Exploding School Budgets
Despite what you may hear, school funding hasn’t exploded. In fact, over the last 20 years, schools have been asked to take on significantly more, from advanced technology to safety upgrades to expanded student support, but the funding to pay for these initiatives has barely budged. When you adjust for inflation, state revenue per student has only grown by a fraction of a percent each year. Schools are being asked to do a lot more with essentially the same resources.
State revenues have not kept pace.
From 2000 to 2022, overall state revenue actually decreased by 2.2% after inflation.
On a per student basis, state revenue grew just 6.6% over 22 years — that’s only about 0.3% a year.
➡️ In other words, state funding for each student has been essentially flat for two decades.
School spending increases look big until you break them down.
Overall, school spending rose 9.4% over 22 years — that’s only 0.43% a year after inflation.
On a per-student basis, spending grew 19.4% over 22 years, or about 0.88% a year after inflation.
➡️ Less than 1% growth per year is hardly the “massive increase” some claim.
Expectations have skyrocketed while funding hasn’t.
Schools are asked to provide far more today than in 2000: new technology, safety measures, mental health supports, career readiness pathways, and more.
Yet the dollars to support those responsibilities have stayed nearly flat.
How to Advocate
Contact your legislators about the need for balanced reform.
Ask: What would losing teachers, staff, or programs mean for our community?
Share this information with neighbors, friends, business leaders, and community groups to amplify Springfield’s voice.
Moving Forward
Springfield’s students deserve stable, equitable resources that reflect today’s educational costs and community priorities. Thoughtful tax reform is welcome; unfunded mandates are not. By engaging legislators now, residents can protect instructional quality, public safety, and the economic vitality of the entire city, today and for generations to come.