Education

Parents—the first and most important educators—have a fundamental right to choose the education best suited to the needs of their children, including public, private and religious schools. Government, through such means as tax credits and publicly funded scholarships, should help provide resources for parents, especially those of modest means, to exercise this basic right without discrimination.

Over the years, the Ohio General Assembly and Ohio’s Governors have provided tax-supported assistance for pupils attending Catholic and other chartered nonpublic schools. Ohio’s elected officials have allocated funds for resources such as textbooks, tutoring, bus transportation, counseling and psychological services, administrative support, computer hardware and software, and teacher training. The Ohio EdChoice Scholarship Program, Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program, and Autism Scholarship Program help make Catholic school education possible for families and students with special needs. [More]

Legislative Update

TALKING POINTS ON STATE CUTS TO CATHOLIC SCHOOLS

• The cuts hurt.

Fewer dollars mean fewer teachers for students needing remedial reading and math instruction and special education.  Fewer dollars mean fewer guidance counselors and speech and hearing therapists.  Fewer dollars mean less technology, fewer teaching materials and instructional supplies.  Fewer dollars mean less reimbursement for government-required expenditures.

• The cuts are unfair. 

Ohio’s state budget used to treat students equitably. For the past 25 years, funding for Auxiliary Services and Administrative Cost Reimbursement increased or decreased by the same percentage as basic aid for public schools.  Not in this state budget . . .

When this cut is added to those imposed last year (when basic aid for public school students was held harmless), students in chartered nonpublic schools will receive 17.4 percent less in state-funded assistance than they received 12 months ago. 

At the same time, Ohio could have allocated aid for nonpublic school students in the $ 325 million Governmental Services package it secured through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). But it didn’t.  

• The cuts slash funding to schools that save Ohio taxpayers billions of dollars.

The average cost to educate a student in a public school is $10,000.  For every $900 Ohio invests to educate a student in a chartered nonpublic school, it saves more than $9,000 in state and local taxes. Chartered nonpublic schools saved taxpayers $1.7 billion during 2009/2010 alone.

• The cuts harm the quality of education in schools that serve thousands of Ohio students every year (195,000 in 2008/2009) 

• Catholic schools have a long track record of excellence.

  • Many have been in existence since the 1800s. 

  • Almost 100 percent of the students graduate.

  • Over 90 percent of their students pass the Ohio Graduation Tests in reading, writing, math, science, social studies on the first try. 

  • There is a high rate of parent involvement and parent satisfaction.

  • There is a long history of educating low-income and immigrant families in economically challenged neighborhoods.

  • Catholic school students on EdChoice scholarships, who have been tracked by independent researchers, show steady academic gains, and these gains increase for every year students remain in a Catholic school.

• Ohio claims that education is the state’s #1 priority . . . but not for its nonpublic school students. Ohio used to be committed to supporting the education of all of its students -- no matter where they went to school. By restoring funding, Ohio can once again become a model for other states.

Legislative Contact Information

RESOURCES

Ohio's Education Reform Plan, ODE. Includes the Ohio Department of Education's Testimony on HB 1.

Education Reform Analysis, Ohio Dept. Budget and Management

What's Happening in Ohio (2007). DVD explaining Ohio tax-supported assistance to students in Catholic schools. Features Ohio Catholic school students and adults.
North version. Features persons from the Dioceses of Toledo, Cleveland and Youngstown.
South version. Features persons from the Dioceses of Cincinnati, Columbus, and Steubenville
Legislative version. Shortened version targeted at Legislative leaders.

Hosting a School Visit with your elected officials

LINKS

Catholic School Office, Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Catholic Education Office, Diocese Cleveland
Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Columbus
Office Christian Formation, Diocese of Steubenville
Catholic Schools Office, Diocese Toledo
Office of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Youngstown

Ohio Dept. Education

0CEA: Ohio Catholic Education Association Convention

OCEA 2009 Handouts

OCEA Evaluation Form

CONTACTS

The Catholic Conference of Ohio's Department on Education serves those involved in Catholic elementary and secondary schools, religious education, youth and young adult ministry, and college campus ministry. Those meeting as groups on a regular basis include the Diocesan Directors of Campus Ministry, the Diocesan Directors of Religious Education, Superintendents of Schools, and Diocesan Directors of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Each of these groups uses the Conference as a forum for planning, discussion, cooperative action and professional growth.

STAFF CONTACT: Larry Keough (lkeough@ohiocathconf.org)