Uprooting the Grounds in Ohio’s State Takeover School Districts

This study investigates the spatial and contextual dimensions of structural oppression and opportunity within Ohio’s state takeover districts by integrating Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping, fiscal and performance metrics, content and policy analysis, and stakeholder testimonios. Focusing on the cases of Youngstown, Lorain, and East Cleveland, the analysis centers on public school districts affected by state takeover legislation from 2015 to 2025. These districts, two of which are predominantly Black and all three experience high rates of child poverty, are examined through the lenses of Critical Race Spatial Analysis (CRSA), Critical Policy Analysis (CPA), and Critical Race Theory (CRT).

The analysis is guided by two research questions:

1. (1) How do spatial and structural factors in Ohio’s state takeover districts generate both barriers and pathways to opportunity? 2. (2) In what ways do narratives of cultural identity, memory, and resistance illuminate and challenge these dynamics?

Findings trace the influence of historical and contemporary forces—from Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC) redlining to ongoing disparities in property values and district revenues—on access to power, political representation, and opportunity across these educational geographies. The study foregrounds community narratives that expose and contest the spatial and structural arrangements in Ohio’s state takeover districts. By amplifying the lived experiences of those most directly affected, this research reveals the implications and limitations of state interventions that quantitative indicators and policy documents alone cannot fully capture.