Systematically Decimating the Urban 8

August 11, 2026

Good Tuesday morning,

Policy Matters Ohio reported that public schools in our state were shortchanged $3 billion in the current two-year state budget when pro-voucher lawmakers dropped the Cupp Patterson Fair School Funding Plan.

At the same time Cupp Patterson, a plan adapted and initially adopted by state lawmakers to fund public schools at a constitutional level was deemed a “fantasy” and “unsustainable,” pro-voucher lawmakers are spending $1 billion a year on EdChoice private school vouchers.

No public schools were harmed more than Ohio’s Big 8 urban districts. Combined, those districts were shortchanged almost $600 million in the two-year budget or one of every five dollars that the state did not spend for children in public schools.

Reject the idea that declining enrollment is the reason for the state withholding these funds. The Cupp Patterson funding formula was based on current enrollment.

For this email, we’ll look only at Cleveland and Columbus, but the same thing is systematically happening in Ohio’s urban districts.

By far, Cleveland Public Schools was hardest hit. Under Cupp Patterson, they should have received $155.6 million more in the budget, but the district actually saw a reduction in state aid of $1.6 million.

In April, the school board announced it is is laying off 410 employees, including 146 teachers and 15 licensed practical nurses.

Pro-voucher state lawmakers cut funding to Columbus in the current budget by $24.8 million and Cupp Patterson called for $23.5 million more on top of that so the state’s largest public school district is short $48.3 million in state funding.

In February, Columbus eliminated 62 administrative jobs and in May cut 300 teaching and staff positions.

Columbus Education Association president John Coneglio said the budget crisis was due to the state “disinvesting in public education.”

Policy Matters research shows the state’s share of school funding has dropped from a high of 47 percent in 1999 to 35 percent in 2026 and 32 percent next year.

When the state disinvests in local schools, one of two things happen: schools seek property tax levies to make up the difference or make cuts in teachers, administrators, school bus drivers, AP classes, etc.

Sometimes both cuts and levies occur. Columbus voters passed a $100 million levy in 2023.

Columbus has been part of our lawsuit challenging the EdChoice private school voucher system from our inception.

Cleveland is not.

We think every school district in the state should stand up for their school children, their communities and their taxpayers and challenge the constitutionality of EdChoice vouchers.

In doing so, we are also calling on the state to fully fund Cupp Patterson, increase the state share of funding local schools back to the 47 percent level, and save local taxpayers billions in property taxes.

Is your district part of our historic lawsuit? Check here.

If not, why not? Join here.

Sincerely,

Vouchers Hurt Ohio