Where does money for Ohio’s schools really come from?

Nearly every election season in Ohio, voters are asked to decide on another local school levy. If education is already supported through state taxes and if lottery profits were meant to help fund schools, why do districts keep needing additional funding?

Public schools in Ohio receive about $18,300 per student annually, according to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission for FY2025. The figure combines funding from local taxes, state aid, federal programs, and smaller revenue sources.

Ohio sits in the middle of the pack nationally.

This article first published by the Dayton Daily News. See the full opinion piece here.