COLUMBUS, Ohio — As Ohio Senate Republicans advance a resolution urging Congress to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education, the proposal brings into focus how much federal funding flows into Ohio schools and how those dollars would be replaced if federal oversight were reduced or eliminated.
Senate Concurrent Resolution 16, introduced Feb. 11 and pending before the Senate Education Committee, calls on Congress to dismantle the federal agency and return education authority to the states. The measure argues that education is not a power delegated to the federal government and that states are better positioned to oversee schools.
While the resolution does not directly alter funding, Ohio schools currently receive significant federal education support.
According to recent state and policy reports, the federal government spent approximately $3.18 billion on education in Ohio in 2024, accounting for roughly 13% of total public school funding in the state during that period.
Two of the largest federal funding streams include:
- Title I funding, which provides support to districts serving higher concentrations of low-income students. Ohio schools received approximately $651 million in Title I funds in fiscal year 2024.
- IDEA funding, which supports special education services for students with disabilities. Ohio received roughly $394 million in IDEA funding in the most recent reporting year.
Title I funds are typically used for instructional support, intervention services, and academic assistance programs. IDEA funding helps districts meet federally mandated special education requirements, including staffing, evaluations, individualized education plans, and specialized transportation.
Ohio’s Department of Education and Workforce reports that the state provided approximately $13.51 billion in primary and secondary education funding in fiscal year 2025. If Ohio were required to replace the roughly $3.18 billion in annual federal education funding, that would represent an increase of more than 20% over the state’s current baseline funding level.
If property tax increases or local levies are not considered as options — as some policymakers have proposed broader reductions in property taxes — potential approaches to offsetting federal funds would likely fall to the state level.
Options could include:
- Increasing statewide revenue through general tax structures.
- Reallocating funds within the existing state budget.
- Seeking federal waivers or block grants that provide funding with fewer administrative requirements.
Each approach carries fiscal and policy implications. Replacing federal funding through state general revenue would require either additional revenue or spending adjustments elsewhere in the state budget. Reallocation within existing education funding could require districts to adjust staffing or program priorities. Block grant approaches could change how funds are distributed among districts.
At the local level, federal funding supports programs that are embedded in district budgets. Title I dollars often fund intervention teachers, reading and math support staff, and supplemental instructional services. IDEA funding helps cover the cost of legally required special education services, which districts must provide regardless of funding source.
Because many federal programs are formula-based and targeted toward specific student populations, any restructuring would require coordination between state agencies, lawmakers, and school districts to ensure continuity of services.
The resolution directs state officials to develop a comprehensive plan to assume responsibility for federal education programs if authority is shifted to the states. That plan would include identifying statutory changes, recommended waivers or transfers, and potential legislation to implement changes.
The U.S. Department of Education continues to operate as a federal agency. A fiscal 2026 federal funding bill signed Feb. 3 includes approximately $79 billion for the department nationwide.
While dismantling the department would require congressional action, the debate in Ohio highlights the fiscal considerations tied to federal education funding and the potential impact on state and local budgets if authority — and financial responsibility — shifts to the states.