STATE FUNDING GUIDE

Ohio

Ohio’s FY 2024-25 budget (HB 33) launched ReadOhio, requiring science-of-reading instruction statewide and, under ORC 3313.6028, requiring districts to use ELA core materials (grades PK-5) and evidence-based reading intervention programs (grades PK-12) only from the Department of Education and Workforce’s approved lists beginning in 2024-25. The state backed the mandate with roughly $169 million in FY 2024-25, including about $64 million in subsidies for districts buying aligned curricula and materials, and the FY 2026-27 budget (HB 96) continues literacy coach funding at $12 million per year. Students flagged under the Third Grade Reading Guarantee must receive interventions through Reading Improvement and Monitoring Plans (RIMPs) drawn from the approved intervention list.

ReadOhio (HB 33, 2023)

How schools fund reading intervention in Ohio

The state-level programs below are the streams Ohio districts most often use for evidence-based reading intervention purchases, alongside the federal streams available everywhere.

HB 33 Science of Reading Curriculum and Materials Subsidies

HB 33 directed DEW to subsidize districts’ purchases of approved science-of-reading-aligned curricula and materials (about $64 million in FY 2024-25); the initial subsidy window was tied to that biennium, so confirm current availability with DEW before budgeting.

Third Grade Reading Guarantee / RIMP Intervention Requirement

All K-3 students are screened annually and struggling readers must get RIMPs with evidence-based interventions from the approved list; districts commonly fund these required intervention purchases with state foundation dollars plus federal Title I/IDEA.

State Literacy Coaches (HB 96, FY 2026-27)

The FY 2026-27 budget provides $12 million per year for literacy coaches deployed to the lowest-performing elementary schools; this is state-run implementation support rather than a district purchasing grant, but it pairs with district intervention adoptions.

Approved-list note: Under ORC 3313.6028, districts must choose reading intervention programs (grades PK-12) only from DEW’s Approved List of Evidence-Based Reading Intervention Programs — RAVE-O by Nido Learning is on that list (2024), so districts can select it directly.

Official state resource →