330 Ohio School Districts United Against Revised Bill Targeting EdChoice Funding
In a significant development, a coalition of 330 public school districts in Ohio has come together to challenge the controversial EdChoice private school voucher program. This program, which has been deemed unconstitutional by Judge Jaiza Page of Franklin County, is set to cost taxpayers a staggering $1.7 billion over the next two years. The districts are taking a stand against Representative Jamie Callender's proposed bill, which aims to withhold state funds from public schools suing over the EdChoice program.
The Vouchers Hurt Ohio group, representing the affected districts, argues that the EdChoice program is unconstitutional and is siphoning much-needed funds from underfunded public schools. Eric Brown, a former chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court and a former member of the Columbus City Schools Board of Education, supports this stance, emphasizing that the program is unconstitutional regardless of the amount of money involved. He calls on the legislature to heed Judge Page's ruling and address the unconstitutionality of EdChoice.
The coalition's lawsuit has revealed a systemic issue with state funding for public schools, prompting the bill's revision. Callender's initial proposal, House Bill 671, threatened to withhold all public tax dollars from districts participating in the lawsuit. However, the revised bill now only targets the fees districts pay to fund the lawsuit, which still constitutes a penalty, according to Brown. William L. Phillis, a member of Vouchers Hurt Ohio and the Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding, highlights the coalition's role in uncovering the unconstitutionality of EdChoice, urging state lawmakers to appreciate and rectify the issue.
The Vouchers Hurt Ohio website (https://vouchershurtohio.com/districts/) showcases the participation of several Mahoning Valley school districts, including Poland, Liberty, Springfield Local, South Range, and Youngstown City, which have been members since 2021. This widespread support from Ohio's public school districts underscores the gravity of the issue and the need for a resolution that ensures fair and adequate funding for all students.
