[Oafcs] LOBBY ALERT - PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY

Wed Mar 25 11:41:31 EDT 2020

Thanks so Sandy Laurenson for sharing this important information!

Be well, all!
Ann

Contact Your Ohio Senator and Representative Today!

1.  Insist that Ohio legislators meet their self-imposed deadline of April 1 to fix the voucher mess they created when they adopted last minute, unvetted amendments the 2020-2121 Operating Budget Bill.

These amendments resulted in huge expansions of eligibility for education vouchers and disproportional and excessive decreases in funding for public school districts. Vouchers are scholarships to private/religious schools paid with public dollars. If left unchecked, students in 1,227 buildings – more than 1/3 of all Ohio public school buildings and 2/3 of Ohio school districts – would qualify for a voucher next year, potentially increasing the amount of money spent on the state’s five voucher programs to $500 million or more a year.

2.  Tell your state senator (https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislators/senate-directory) and representative (http://www.ohiohouse.gov/index) to support the bipartisan House Version of SB 89 which will phase out the current EdChoice Vouchers and phase out the school district deduction method of funding which robs school districts of $$$ local voters intended for the support of their local school districts.

Yesterday – March 24 – was the 23rd anniversary of the Ohio Supreme Court ruling that “The current legislation fails to provide a thorough and efficient system of common schools in violation of Section 2, Article VI of the Ohio Constitution.” Tragically, this has never been remedied. Ohio’s children deserve better. Funding for public schools should be the top priority of Ohio’s legislators.

For more information:

•  janresseger.wordpress.com/2020/03/23/23788/<https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjanresseger.wordpress.com%2F2020%2F03%2F23%2F23788%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cca725797633b400bdf5208d7d0d2fdf4%7Cf3308007477c4a70888934611817c55a%7C0%7C0%7C637207476925329705&sdata=66P1URxzVgaoNFFuzXomMuQRViUj%2ByC0lAXMJL%2BZ34Q%3D&reserved=0>

•  innovationohio.org/education/sb-89-could-prevent-disaster-for-ohio-public-schools/<https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Finnovationohio.org%2Feducation%2Fsb-89-could-prevent-disaster-for-ohio-public-schools%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cca725797633b400bdf5208d7d0d2fdf4%7Cf3308007477c4a70888934611817c55a%7C0%7C0%7C637207476925339691&sdata=It7R%2FDg5re9jQNwVonu4ZBp9%2FN1FaRYNxHFNqvKaTo8%3D&reserved=0>

Questions? Contact Sandra Laurenson, Laurenson1 at gmail.com<mailto:Laurenson1 at gmail.com>, 330-468-3955, 216-509-7597 cell

On Wed, Mar 25, 2020 at 8:59 AM Candace Fox <cf.candace.fox at gmail.com<mailto:cf.candace.fox at gmail.com>> wrote:
Sandy,
Thanks for this information. When I first read it, I was confused when it said public schools would be eligible for vouchers. I read one of the articles listed and I think I understand it. More districts would have money taken away under the poor performance rating.
Am I correct?
Candace

Sent from my iPad

On Mar 24, 2020, at 10:03 PM, Sandra Laurenson <laurenson1 at gmail.com<mailto:laurenson1 at gmail.com>> wrote:
Hello OAFCS Board Members,

I don't know what it takes these days to sent a lobby alert to members. So I'm sending this to all board members and hoping you will each personally take action and as a board share it with all OAFCS members. The issue of expanding educational vouchers in Ohio has potentially direct impact on FCS programs as public school districts lose millions of dollars to vouchers. The legislature has until April 1 to fix the damage done by their last minute amendments to the 2010-2021 Biennial Budget bill. What is happening this week given the corona virus is extremely difficult to decipher. Legislative sessions are scheduled Wednesday and Thursday but I cannot find information re the agendas. Action is indeed urgent.

Sandy Laurenson
Former OAFCS Public Policy Chair

Contact Your Ohio Senator and Representative Today!

1.  Insist that Ohio legislators meet their self-imposed deadline of April 1 to fix the voucher mess they created when they adopted last minute, unvetted amendments the 2020-2121 Operating Budget Bill.

These amendments resulted in huge expansions of eligibility for education vouchers and disproportional and excessive decreases in funding for public school districts. Vouchers are scholarships to private/religious schools paid with public dollars. If left unchecked, 1,227 buildings – more than 1/3 of all Ohio public school buildings and 2/3 of Ohio school districts – would qualify for a voucher next year, potentially increasing the amount of money spent on the state’s five voucher programs to $500 million or more a year.

2.  Tell your state senator (https://www.legislature.ohio.gov/legislators/senate-directory) and representative (http://www.ohiohouse.gov/index) to support the bipartisan House Version of SB 89 which will phase out the current EdChoice Vouchers and phase out the school district deduction method of funding which robs school districts of $$$ local voters intended for the support of their local school districts.

Yesterday – March 24 – was the 23rd anniversary of the Ohio Supreme Court ruling that “The current legislation fails to provide a thorough and efficient system of common schools in violation of Section 2, Article VI of the Ohio Constitution.” Tragically, this has never been remedied. Ohio’s children deserve better. Funding for public schools should be the top priority of Ohio’s legislators.

For more information:

•  janresseger.wordpress.com/2020/03/23/23788/<https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fjanresseger.wordpress.com%2F2020%2F03%2F23%2F23788%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cca725797633b400bdf5208d7d0d2fdf4%7Cf3308007477c4a70888934611817c55a%7C0%7C0%7C637207476925339691&sdata=D8fbmrBLMXjeKfxuc2PmjZgyx192m7nDHoqpImKq%2FpI%3D&reserved=0>

•  innovationohio.org/education/sb-89-could-prevent-disaster-for-ohio-public-schools/<https://nam03.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Finnovationohio.org%2Feducation%2Fsb-89-could-prevent-disaster-for-ohio-public-schools%2F&data=02%7C01%7C%7Cca725797633b400bdf5208d7d0d2fdf4%7Cf3308007477c4a70888934611817c55a%7C0%7C0%7C637207476925349693&sdata=Y6Z8W%2Ftd%2B3CA4bQ0fZbmSCQAIMpFXO8fjvK5PL4%2FPeE%3D&reserved=0>

Questions? Contact Sandra Laurenson, Laurenson1 at gmail.com<mailto:Laurenson1 at gmail.com>, 330-468-3955, 216-509-7597 cell

V. Ann Paulins, Ph.D.
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Senior Associate Dean – Research & Graduate Studies
The Gladys W. and David H. Patton College of Education
Professor – Retail Merchandising and Fashion Product Development
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