WCC supports excellence in public education and advocates for policies, resources, and services that improve children’s lives and prepare them for future success.
Sarah Gideonse chairs this action group.
WCC members interested in analyzing policy proposals and legislation, developing and working on new projects, participating in hands-on ways to help at risk children succeed in school, and planning forums about education may contact Sarah Gideonse for more information and to volunteer.
Members are interested in replacing our longstanding and effective literacy program for kindergartners (no longer in operation under WCC aegis) with hands-on ways to improve children's achievement.
EAG members analyze the Ohio General Assembly’s education legislation, often brought to our attention by the nonpartisan Honesty for Ohio Education nonprofit, and reports concerns to the WCC board to consider action. They may decide to present testimony during the legislation's hearing and provide information about concerns in the Update and the Bulletin, along with possible actions members and friends can take. The EAG works with the Program Committee to sponsor education-related forums.
On board approval, early in 2025, we drafted testimony in opposition to SB1, the Advance Higher Education Act. SB1 has many features likely to damage state institutions of higher education. The worst parts were the restrictions on faculty that were an assault on academic freedom. Opponents predicted a “brain drain” with faculty leaving Ohio for less restrictive positions, and potential students deciding to attend collage elsewhere. The bill became law despite widespread opposition.
WCC also opposed the provisions in the state budget bill for FY 2026-27 that could affect public schools adversely. The weekly Update provided our members and friends information about ways to take action, through contact with legislators, and by providing testimony. The bill ultimately reduced the funding of the Fair School Funding Plan (the main source of state support of public schools) to the 2021 level. At the same time, the bill increased the appropriation for universal school vouchers to 2.5 billion dollars, thereby transferring more public tax dollars from public schools to private education with little government regulation or oversight. According the newspaper reports, most of children receiving vouchers are already attending private schools.
Education Action Group members join a team reading and ranking essays written by senior high school women and submitted as part of their applications to receive a Marian Spencer Education Award.
Woman’s City Club sponsors or cosponsors forums related to education. In Augst 2025, we participated in planning and officially cosponsoring a forum initiated by the League of Women voters on public school funding and the Cincinnati Public Schools school levy requiring no new taxes. Find a report on this forum in the September-October Bulletin. https://womanscityclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/WCC-Nov-Dec-2025-Bulletin.pdf