Ohio Democrat wants millions in COVID relief for summer school

On Apr 11, 2022

Former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, one of the Democrats looking to be Ohio's next governor, proposed spending federal recovery dollars on free summer school for all Ohio school children.

Students in Ohio and across the country have fallen behind academically during the pandemic, and lawmakers of all political persuasions want to get them back on track.

But they don’t agree on how.

Former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley, one of the Democrats looking to be Ohio’s next governor, proposed spending federal recovery dollars on free summer school for all Ohio school children.

“There is no excuse for not offering robust summer school,” according to a statement from Cranley’s gubernatorial campaign.

Ohio schools and the Department of Education received a combined $7.9 billion in federal COVID-19 relief and had spent about 21% as of Feb. 28, according to the Cranley campaign.

More:Ohio schools struggle with spikes in chronic absenteeism during the pandemic

Many public schools already offer summer enrichment programs, but they come at a cost.

Cranley’s plan would make six weeks of summer school free for all Ohio children – even those who attend private or community schools. The program would also offer transportation and free meals to eligible students.

Cranley’s press release didn’t offer an estimate on the cost of statewide summer school, saying the total would depend on the number of children who participated.

“But there is enough unspent federal money to pay for it – even if enrollment was unexpectedly high,” the release stated.

Senate Bill 229, introduced by Republican Sen. Bill Blessing and signed into law in December, already requires local districts to develop remediation plans and submit them to the Ohio Department of Education.

And in February 2021, Gov. Mike DeWine directed school districts to consider hiring tutors, extending their school days or even their calendars as well as developing plans to make up learning losses.