Debbie Phillips is working hard to improve educational opportunities for the children from our region, and has ever since the Ohio Supreme Court ruled that the current educational funding system is unconstitutional. Debbie understands the importance of education, and the need to ensure that our children have great educational opportunities. Our state constitution promises this to all our children, and we need to reduce reliance on local property taxes to keep that promise. Where a child lives shouldn’t determine the quality of that child’s education. Our kids deserve a chance to make a good life for themselves.

Early Childhood

Children grow and learn so much in their first years of life. Research shows that brain development happens very rapidly from birth to five. We need to make sure those years are great years for children to play, learn, and be loved. Every family who wants high-quality childcare, pre-school and kindergarten should have that option for their children.

The research is clear and strong. Every dollar invested in early education has great benefits, for the children, for their families, and for our communities. In fact, the Federal Reserve Bank found that we get the highest return on our investment when we spend public funds on early childhood programs. We get up to $17 back for every $1 invested. It’s the smartest investment we can make. Children who have high-quality early education make more money, stay off welfare, and commit fewer crimes.

Southeastern Ohio has some of the best Head Start programs in Ohio, with a Three Star rating. Unfortunately, we’ve already had to close one of those centers because of lost funding from the state. Across the state, policies of the Taft administration have forced a 77% decline in Head Start enrollment. Governor Strickland has made education a top priority and is working hard to reverse this trend, and make sure our children get have a good educational foundation. Debbie Phillips will work to ensure that we make a solid investment where it counts the most.

K-12 Education

We have an unconstitutional system for providing education to children in Ohio. Right now, some children don’t have textbooks, and others have extravagances like a shuttle bus from the parking lot. Governor Strickland is taking this problem seriously and is holding regular meetings with education groups and other interested people to determine the best solution.

Debbie Phillips founded the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign to help parents, students, and community members have a voice in Columbus to fix school funding. She has helped hundreds of people set up meetings with lawmakers, and tell them how to fix the system. In her work as Executive Director of the Ohio Fair Schools Campaign she is taking part in regular meetings with the Governor’s policy staff.

Debbie is running for State Representative to be part of the solution.

The State of Ohio must:

• Determine exactly what is guaranteed for each child. Classes that aren’t too big, plentiful course offerings, safe buildings, programs for gifted, vocational and special education students. None of these are “frills” and no school should have to cut basics just to keep the doors open. The amount of state funds must be based on actual cost, not political wrangling.
• Fund the guaranteed level of education for every child with state funds. The state has been passing the buck to local taxpayers, and we need to make the system legal and fair.
• Allow local schools to ask local voters to fund extras that are important in their community. The state should pay for the basics that every child needs, but if a local community wants to strive for a higher standard, they should have that option.
• Increase local involvement in schools. Maintain local control through elected school boards and guarantee that taxpayer dollars go to public schools that have elected boards, so the taxpayers have real oversight.
Our children are the future of our communities and nation. They deserve great educational opportunities, and the chance to fully develop their talents. Debbie Phillips is dedicated to ensuring such opportunities come from a statewide and fair public education system.

Higher Education

The world is changing and becoming more complex. Young people need more education than they did in the past in order to be part of the information-based economy. The duties of citizenship are also more complicated. For example, serving on a jury may require the ability to analyze and understand DNA evidence. For the future of our region and our state, we have to make smart investments all the way from preschool to college.

State funds once paid for two-thirds of a public university education in Ohio. Now, it’s closer to one-third. Rising tuition costs are placing a college education out of reach for too many of our young people. To keep Ohio competitive in today’s economy, we have to make it possible for our students to stay here, develop their talents, and be part of our communities.

Debbie Phillips is a graduate of Ohio University. During her time at Ohio University, Debbie, like many other students, was forced to take out student loans. Debbie only recently finished paying back her student loans, so she clearly understands the reality that faces many students in paying for their education. Debbie Phillips supports Governor Ted Strickland’s freeze on tuition at Ohio’s public colleges and universities to help make college more affordable and accessible to residents, and wants the state to step up to ensure adequate funding.

Community colleges and branch campuses are a good option for many students. But for those who want to attend a four-year public university, the option has to be available. If we adequately fund education Pre-K to 12th grade, the need for remedial classes will decrease. The earlier we make the investment, the higher our return.However, we also need to work to make the transitions between K-12 schools, community colleges, and state universities work better. We want to ensure and encourage success—not push students out. New efforts to ensure that credits transfer between state colleges and universities will increase options for students, but we need to move carefully to avoid unnecessary expense and duplication as changes to higher education move forward.

Higher education is important, and the State of Ohio must keep community colleges and four-year public universities open and accessible to our young people. We want them here, using their talents and making southeastern Ohio an even better place to live, work and raise a family.



If you would like to know Debbie's stance on an issue that's not covered here, or need a more specific answer regarding her platform, please CONTACT DEBBIE for clarification.