PoliticsOhio: School Districts Cutting, Not Asking for Levies

Ellen Belcher, who's filling in for Emily McCord, interviews Wendy Patton of Policy Matters Ohio about a recent survey that the liberal-leaning think tank did of Ohio's schools. The state's 600-plus school districts have been hit with a two-year $1.8 billion cut in funding. That means their state aid has dropped to 2003 levels. Policy Matters estimates that Ohio has 2,500 fewer teachers in the classroom as a result. Districts are reluctant to ask for more local money from voters and instead are cutting their budgets in unprecedented ways.