COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Lawmakers introducing a proposal to overhaul Ohio's school funding system say they've changed their original plan to direct more money for economically disadvantaged students.
Democratic Rep. John Patterson, of Jefferson, and Republican Rep. Bob Cupp, of Lima said Wednesday they hope to have summer hearings about their bill. That would be rare for the Legislature.
They say the plan more fairly splits local and state funding shares and factors in the cost of educating a child and a community's ability to help pay for that. It includes extra support for needs such as special education and educating children in poverty.
Ohio's school-funding system has been repeatedly adjusted since it was found unconstitutional in 1997. Cupp, a former state Supreme Court justice, says the current proposal meets relevant legal requirements.
