COLUMBUS – Just days before the application window opens for Ohio’s biggest school voucher program, lawmakers are considering changing eligibility guidelines to avoid a spike in qualifying locations.
The Republican-led Senate approved a proposal Tuesday to exclude high-performing schools that would have qualified for the vouchers and shrink the list of eligible locations.
Minority Democrats say the measure is not enough to halt the growth of the state’s EdChoice program, which they say deprives public school districts of resources.
“Ohio’s children have the right to receive a quality public school education. The expansion of Ohio’s voucher program undermines the state’s ability to fulfill its constitutional obligation,” Sen. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo) said.
EdChoice is supposed to help fund private school tuition for students from poor-performing districts and schools but public school officials complained that expanded eligibility would funnel away more state money and that even some high-performing schools were qualifying.
The measure also would expand eligibility for income-based scholarships and provide $30 million to help offset voucher deductions. Now the House considers the proposal.