Ashford on HB 30
COLUMBUS – State Representative Michael Ashford (D-Toledo) of the 48th Ohio House district recently voted to protect vital education reforms which were passed with bi-partisan support in the last General Assembly. Republicans in the House led approval of legislation (House Bill 30) to dismantle the reforms that were applauded for finally fixing the broken and unconstitutional funding system for Ohio schools. The reforms included reducing the reliance on local property taxes and using proven models for student success to improve learning. House Bill 30 eliminates the requirement that school districts offer all-day kindergarten and reinstates the prominent authority for most districts and community schools to charge tuition for all-day kindergarten.
Rep. Ashford has issued the following statement:
“I am not sure what we are all doing here in Columbus if we are not fighting for Ohio’s children. Our children are all of our futures and if we don’t give them the best education possible, then Ohio has a very bleak future. In Ohio, there are 1,698,662 students in public school grades 1-12 and 129,988 children in public kindergarten. In Toledo Public Schools, we have 17,950 (65%) students receiving free lunch and 1,097 students receiving reduced lunch. Early education has been proven to help children succeed in the education environment. Without kindergarten, the public will see a decrease in graduation rates, and a less educated workforce. Ohio’s new school funding system that was put into place during the last General Assembly is based on evidence of proven successes. We have been given proof in this state that smaller classes, better teachers, and more learning time improve a Childs education. Dismantling this system threatens those steps forward and again if we aren’t here to fight for Ohio’s children what are we doing. Ohio needs to keep investing in our education system to give our children the best opportunities to succeed.”
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