Belmont students tell Senate proposed budget would force deep cuts to AP, CCP, CTE, ESL and special-education supports

Students from Belmont Middle and High School told the Ohio Senate Education Committee that proposed state budget changes could lead to deep cuts that would eliminate Advanced Placement (AP) and College Credit Plus (CCP) courses, curb career‑technical education (CTE), reduce English‑learner services and squeeze supports for students with disabilities.

Belmont students spoke during a public‑testimony period Tuesday. A student who identified themself as representing Belmont said, “These programs are not just supplemental opportunities, they're lifelines for many students in our district.”

The students cited published figures they said show Dayton Public Schools ended fiscal 2024 with about $139.2 million in cash on hand — roughly 58.2% of its budget — and said Legislative Service Commission estimates would require the district to lower that balance by more than $67 million under the current budget proposal. A Belmont student warned that without that funding "AP courses challenge students to excel academically" and that cuts would “directly undermine our students' potential.”

Ivan Baraka, an eighth‑grader at Belmont Middle School, testified specifically about English‑learner (ESL) programs and said “without proper language support, these students are at a significant disadvantage,” urging lawmakers to prioritize ESL funding to keep students from falling behind academically and socially. David Atkinson, a Belmont High School junior, said reductions to supports for students with disabilities and behavioral needs risked denying education to students with sensory disabilities and could roll back progress in inclusion.

Committee members urged the students to make the same case to local school boards and asked questions about the details of the proposed budget, but did not take immediate action. Senatorial questions at the hearing repeatedly returned to the overall funding formula and whether program funding would be preserved if the state updates its calculation of cost and local share.

Why it matters: witnesses framed AP, CCP, CTE, ESL and special‑education services as essential to students’ college and career opportunities; the testimony tied specific dollar figures (as reported by local outlets and LSC estimates) to real classroom consequences. The committee heard these remarks as part of a broader set of public comments on K‑12 funding and the House and governor budget proposals.

What’s next: the Senate Education Committee did not vote on any motion related to these student testimonies during the session. Lawmakers and staff will continue budget negotiations; advocates on both sides asked the committee to preserve program funding in the final biennial budget.

Ending: Students and educators from Dayton urged the committee to preserve funding for academic, career, English‑learner and special‑education programs, saying cuts would reduce opportunities for college credit, career readiness and equitable access to instruction.