Local administrators are learning the hard way that a rise in education standards does not necessarily mean a rise in education funding.

Some Ohio schools are struggling to meet changing requirements and expectations in education, but are left without additional money to meet such changing trends in education.

Virginia W. May, superintendent of the Athens County Education Services Center, said current expectations for education are greater than they were in the past.

Students are required to take more courses and pass proficiency tests, and students also have more opportunities through vocational programs and post-secondary option, a program that allows high school students to take college courses for high school and college credit, May said.

Bob Bray, Alexander Local Schools superintendent, said along with the addition of proficiency tests at several grade levels, competency tests have been added at certain grade levels.

Also, special needs mandates have increased, which place a greater emphasis on the inclusion of special education students in classrooms, he said.

Carl Martin, Athens City Schools superintendent, said technology plays a role in how education has changed for both students and teachers.

"Technology has been infused into schools as far as computers and other ways to access information," he said.

When attempting to meet a higher level of educational excellence, schools often face problems in finding enough money to implement the changes.

Bray said the funding stream has not kept up with all of the changes, often leaving schools scrambling to discover how to make ends meet.

In order to deal with the problem, the Athens City schools mainly rearrange budget priorities and look for support from local taxpayers, Martin said.

In addition, the schools pursue grants that may apply to certain programs, he said. School organizations, such as booster clubs, also try to raise funds.

Despite the attempt to supplement needed money, May said the state sometimes mandates changes without supplying the money, as was done with proficiency tests.

"Funding is the biggest problem," she said. "It's hard to run a business when you don't have control over your income or knowledge of what your income will be from year to year."