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Dayton students tell Senate panel budget cuts threaten AP, CCP, CTE, ESL and special‑education services
Summary
Students from Belmont Middle and High Schools and other public commenters told the Senate Education Committee proposed state budget changes would slash Advanced Placement, College Credit Plus, career‑technical, English‑learner and special‑education supports in Dayton Public Schools.
Students from Dayton Public Schools urged Ohio senators on Tuesday to preserve funding for college and career programs and language and special‑education services, saying proposed budget changes risk deep cuts in offerings that many students depend on.
“AP courses challenge students to excel academically,” a Belmont student told the Senate Education Committee during public comment, saying Advanced Placement (AP), College Credit Plus (CCP) and career technical education (CTE) are “lifelines for many students in our district.”
Committee members heard several students describe the same theme. Ivan Baraka, an eighth‑grader at Belmont Middle School, said English‑learner supports are at risk and that Dayton Public Schools serves roughly 1,700 students in ESL programs — about 13 percent of the district’s population, according to his testimony. Baraka said cuts to ESL would leave non‑native English speakers at “a significant disadvantage.”
David Atkinson, a Belmont High School junior, emphasized resources for students with disabilities and behavioral needs, warning that reductions could limit services that some families rely on to keep students in school and learning.
Speakers cited figures they said came from local reporting and the Legislative Service Commission (LSC) analysis: Dayton ended fiscal 2024 with about $139.2 million cash on hand, roughly 58.2 percent of its budget, and LSC projections discussed during the hearing suggested the district could see major reductions under the current budget proposal. Students and supporters urged lawmakers to consider the local consequences if state funding tied to the school‑funding formula changes.
Ranking Member Rick Ingram asked the students to raise these concerns with their local school board as well as with the committee. “The formula is what matters to us,” one public commenter told the panel, adding that Dayton still faces unmet needs for extracurriculars, staffing and basic equipment.
These remarks came during a large Senate Education Committee hearing on the state budget; the students’ appearances were in the public‑comment portion of the session and did not result in committee action. Senators and staff did not adopt or reject the specific figures cited by commenters during the testimony.
The students and parents urged the committee to prioritize line items and formula changes that keep AP, CCP, CTE, ESL and special‑education staffing and services intact for Dayton students.
The committee’s consideration of the budget continues; no formal votes on the budget were taken during the public‑comment period.
