Ohio's governor defends school funding plan

CINCINNATI (AP) - Ohio's governor says his school funding plan is focused on helping students, even as critics charge it is shortchanging many public schools.

Gov. John Kasich talked about education and funding during his State of the State speech Tuesday evening in Lima. He says his plan has a "common sense" focus on helping those who don't have the resources to help themselves.

He says no school will get less state funding for now, and described the funding plan as in a period of transition.

But critics -- including some Democratic legislators and school officials -- say it doesn't do enough to help poor districts, and gives more state support to private schools. The head of the Ohio Education Association calls the GOP governor's claim of increased education funding "an empty promise."