Thousands of public charter school proponents marched through downtown Wednesday to voiceopposition with an education funding plan that they say could force schools to close.
About 4,000 people joined the march along Broad Street, 10TV's Tanisha Mallett reported.Students, teachers and parents then gathered in front of the Ohio Statehouse.
The group wants to send a message to Gov. Ted Strickland about a proposed education fundingprogram that it says provides unequal funding.
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Ohio's charter schools currently receive $617 in state funding, but Strickland is proposingcutting that total to $497 million in his next budget, Mallett reported.
During the next year, charter schools would receive $534 million a number that charter schoolsupporters said does not compare with public schools.
"It is unequal funding; they are not in the foundation formula so they are not getting the samekind of funding as our students in traditional schools," said Sue Westendorf, executive director ofMy School, My Choice.
Strickland said in a statement that he supports all schools, including charter schools, thatprovide a high-quality education to Ohio's young people, and are transparent and accountable totaxpayers, Mallett reported.
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