Rep. Brent advocates for equitable funding of school districts

COLUMBUS– State Rep. Juanita Brent (D-Cleveland) Thursday spoke out to encourage state lawmakers to find equitable funding solutions for public school districts following the Ohio House’s vote to approve Senate Bill (SB) 89. Rep. Brent on Thursday voted against concurring in amendments to SB 89 that will affect the EdChoice voucher program formula that takes money from public school budgets.

“The state of Ohio is at a breaking point and schools will go bankrupt if we do not find a solution to fund public education. The government is obligated to ensure that public schooling is accessible for all students. If parents want to have the option to send students to parochial, charter or private schools that require vouchers, the state needs to find funding options outside of the money we give to our public schools. Vouchers for private, parochial and charter schools take away the power from the local community,” said Rep. Brent. “The General Assembly needs to prioritize a focus on equity and not simply equality because the needs of our students vary. I support providing families with a choice in where their children go to school, but I do not support defunding public schools. We must find another way to fund the voucher program without dismantling and defunding our public school system. We must stand up for public education by using our voices to stand up for the education of our kids in our community.”