Strickland Pledges School Funding

10 TV: Gov. Ted Strickland said Wednesday he won't raise taxes but warned of sacrifice as government programs are reduced and a variety of fees are increased to balance a $50 billion state budget amid an economic recession and declining tax revenues.

In his State of the State address, Strickland said he'll balance the new two-year budget, which faces a $7 billion deficit, with the help of federal aid and by reducing state spending. He also called for a dramatic overhaul of Ohio's school funding system, boosting the state's share of the cost and lowering what taxpayers are expected to contribute to their local schools.

The plan will take the state's share of education funding to 55 percent, an amount that will grow to 59 percent once the plan is completely implemented, he said. Strickland said the plan will dramatically reduce the number of school districts that need to return to voters annually to ask for more money.

Republicans pegged the cost at $750 million annually. State budget director Pari Sabety confirmed the approximate figure but declined to discuss how the state would pay for it. Sabety said the key to the plan is "revenues that grow at the same rate that property valuations grow."

Under the current system, some districts appear richer on paper than they really are based on the value of property, meaning they don't receive enough money to pay for operating expenses. The problem is dubbed "phantom revenue."

Strickland releases his budget and full details of his spending plan Monday. The Ohio Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that Ohio's system of relying on property taxes to pay for schools is unconstitutional because it creates disparities between rich and poor districts.

Strickland also announced several other major changes to Ohio education, including: An expansion of the school year by 20 days to an average of 200 days. Requiring universal all-day kindergarten. The elimination of the Ohio graduation test in favor of requiring all students take the ACT college entrance test. Requiring districts to be audited by the Department of Education to determine how well they're meeting state academic standards. Taking control of districts that don't comply with new state academic and operating standards and replacing district leaders.

Lawmakers responded to the elimination of the graduation test with a standing ovation. "It is absolutely clear to me that simply tinkering with centuries-old education practices will not prepare Ohio's children for success in college, in the workplace, or in life," Strickland said. "When we do these things, I believe we will have finally and unquestionably met our constitutional obligation to our children.”

Strickland, who received strong support from teachers' unions during his 2006 campaign, also addressed the issue of teacher quality. He proposed a four-year residency training program similar to what doctors undergo, at the end of which a teacher would receive a professional license. He's also proposing to make it easier for school administrators to fire bad teachers. "Right now, it's harder to dismiss a teacher than any other public employee," Strickland said. "Under my plan, we will give administrators the power to dismiss teachers for good cause, the same standard applied to other public employees."

The Ohio Education Association, the state's largest teachers' union, said the proposal on teacher training was long overdue. "Is this something that's going to cause controversy initially? Probably so," said Rich Harris, a consultant for the union tapped to address the speech. "In the long run I see it as a great step toward professionalism in the teaching profession."

Among other education proposals, Strickland is calling for a continued tuition freeze for the state's community colleges and regional campuses of four-year institutions for the next two years. He's also proposing a tuition freeze in 2010 for Ohio's four-year public colleges, with the 2011 increase not to exceed 3.5 percent.

The budget to be released Monday will providing funding to universities to cover the cost of the freeze, said Ohio State University president Gordon Gee, citing a briefing he received on the budget. "This is a very significant level of support for higher education," Gee said. "It is about making education accessible and affordable and maintaining its quality."

Strickland said his upcoming two-year budget will increase a variety of fees, fines and penalties paid by Ohioans and businesses in the state. He also proposed expanding health care coverage to offer insurance to every child in Ohio. Strickland also proposed restoring passenger rail service between Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland for the first time in 40 years.