The Problem
In 2021, the Ohio legislature passed the Cupp-Patterson Fair School Funding Plan — unanimously — as a bipartisan solution to decades of unconstitutional school funding. It was a historic moment. Then the state failed to fully implement it. Ohio communities like Reynoldsburg continue to operate schools under a system that depends on local property levies because the state won't pay what it owes.
At the same time, the Ed Choice voucher expansion is actively draining public school budgets — redirecting taxpayer money to private and religious schools with little oversight or accountability. Public schools are left to do more with less while the students who need them most pay the price.
Stacie's Plan
- Fully fund the 2021 Cupp-Patterson Fair School Funding Plan — it passed unanimously, now the state must honor that commitment
- Oppose Ed Choice Expansion — Stacie calls it a weapon to defund public education and funnel taxpayer money to private schools without accountability
- When the state funds public education properly, local homeowners pay fewer school levies — education funding is also a property tax issue
- Invest in teacher pay and classroom resources so Reynoldsburg City Schools can recruit and retain the educators its 8,000+ students deserve
- Expand access to early literacy programs and career-technical education to connect students with good-paying jobs
Why This Matters to Stacie
Stacie Baker is a product of public education and an Ohio State University graduate. He has watched Reynoldsburg City Schools fight for adequate resources year after year — and seen firsthand how underfunded schools ripple through communities, affecting public safety, workforce participation, and family stability.
He believes the state made a promise when it passed Cupp-Patterson unanimously, and breaking that promise hurts every child in District 3. In the Ohio Senate, Stacie will hold the state accountable to its own law and protect public education from further privatization.
