EdChoice
K-12 advocates react to Ohio Senate’s state budget proposal
Public and private education supporters had a mixed bag of reactions to the state budget proposal released by the Ohio Senate GOP on Tuesday. Public school advocates criticized the bill’s provisions making private school vouchers almost universal at 450% of the federal poverty level, allowing those who may be able to pay for the private […]
Ohio Senate introduces $85.7 billion operating budget
Ohio Senate leaders introduced their version of the new two-year operating budget Tuesday. They expect to vote on the $85.7 billion spending plan next week. Lawmakers have until a constitutionally mandated June 30 deadline to settle any differences and approve the budget. The Senate proposal reduces existing state income tax brackets from four to two. […]
Vouchers aren’t about education and freedom, but they are about disunion
In 2011, on the 150th anniversary of the outbreak of the Civil War, the New York Times initiated a series of essays entitled “Disunion“ about a conflict the newspaper described as the time when “Americans went to war with themselves.” The series ran periodically for four years as an attempt to mirror what the paper […]
What could the education budget look like for the next two years?
Discussions have been ongoing in the Ohio Statehouse regarding the overall state budget, and a subcommittee on education has heard takes from both private and public education advocates on the proposals. But what’s in the proposed education budget for fiscal years 2024 and 2025? The Legislative Service Commission laid out the topics and appropriations in […]
Sponsors of ‘backpack bill’ for per pupil Ohio school vouchers push back on $1 billion price tag
A new proposal in the Ohio House of Representatives, dubbed the “backpack bill,” would cost more than a billion dollars if all eligible students would take advantage of the scholarship. But the lawmakers proposing House Bill 11 — Rep. Marilyn John, R-Richland County, and Rep. Riordan McClain, R-Upper Sandusky — don’t anticipate the actual cost […]
How will an expansion of school vouchers impact Ohio public school funding? Answer is ‘speculative’
As Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine wants to expand the state’s school voucher program, the future of fair funding for Ohio’s public schools has become a weighty topic. State Rep. Tracy Richardson, R-Marysville and chair of the subcommittee on primary and secondary education committee, asked about that very thing Tuesday morning — how the proposed expansion […]
Supporters of education overhaul make case in Ohio Senate committee
Workforce development components of a bill to overhaul education in Ohio by taking power from the state school board and putting it under the governor’s officer were applauded by supporters in an Ohio Senate committee Tuesday. Supporters ranged from businesses to career centers to the Ohio Chamber of Commerce, all of whom spoke out at […]
Ohio cheats taxpayers and public schools by funneling money to unaccountable private interests
Many Ohioans pay taxes for schools but don’t have school-age children. Their taxes are meant to fund quality public schools because having educated citizens is a public good. Sending their money to unaccountable for-profit, private, and religious schools is a terrible abuse. Compelling taxpayers to support private interests at the expense of public ones is […]
DeWine prioritizes children, mental health, and attracting business in state of the state
Ohio Gov.Mike DeWine made clear Tuesday that his priorities during this budget cycle center on child literacy, mental health, and spending to bring in big business. In his annual State of the State address to a joint meeting of the General Assembly, DeWine announced big money moves included in his proposed budget, including $2.5 billion […]
Education overhaul returns to Ohio Senate
As promised by Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman last year, an overhaul of the state education system is back on the agenda. The bill, once again led by state Sen. Bill Reineke, R-Tiffin, was reintroduced on Jan. 11, and already has 10 cosponsors signed on. The legislation seeks to rename the Ohio Department of Education […]
Public school funding set for court battle in 2023
While the trial of former Ohio House speaker Larry Householder will hold the attention of many this year, the battle over public school funding will also be subject to court drama. Public school districts, some individual students in public schools, and the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding, spent the last year […]
Private school voucher expansion will bring about school choice, Ohio GOP sponsor says
“Parents know the needs of their children more than the state does,” Ashtabula Republican state Sen. Sandra O’Brien said this week of her attempt to expand private school vouchers in Ohio. Appearing before the Ohio Senate Primary and Secondary Education Committee, O’Brien said Senate Bill 368 would “capitalize on this rising desire to give parents the […]