Study of Ohio’s Funding Approach for Community Schools

Prepared for the Ohio Department of Education in 2022

Augenblick, Palaich and Associates (APA) was contracted by the Ohio Department of Education to examine if the funding approach for community schools should be on a per-pupil or other reasonable basis as a replacement for the discontinuance of a fixed per-pupil formula amount. Community schools are no longer funded on a fixed per-pupil formula. Under the Fair School Funding Plan (FSFP) – in year two of a six-year phase-in – funding is now based on a variable per-pupil amount and the use of traditional district funding amounts to drive some components of funding.

To answer this question, the study team surveyed community schools from across the state to gain a better understanding of how equitably and how well the FSFP supports community schools and their students. This includes understanding how well the formula funds the specific characteristics of community schools including adjusting for student demographic differences. In addition, the study team sought to understand how community schools receiving additional funding through the Quality Community School Support (QCSS) Fund, which provides funding to community schools that meet certain student performance and other criteria, utilized funding to support students. The survey asked a few additional questions of these QCSS grant recipients.

Responses from QCSS grant recipients show that the grant is often used to hire additional staff and to ensure the schools can pay staff a competitive wage. Open response comments highlighted that though the QCSS dollars are “extra” funding, schools feel the resources purchased with the funds ensure they can meet the minimum educational opportunity they need for students. The QCSS enhances opportunities for students in the school and allows community schools to provide a sound educational experience for students. With most grant recipients reporting that QCSS funds supported basic instructional needs, it raises the question of whether these funds should be available to more community schools.