Competition for State Education Funds
Ohio’s education budget is no longer used exclusively to fund traditional public school district opportunities. As privatizing education and the mantra of individual choice have taken hold, it has created an ideological division over whether public funds should support individual choice or serve the common good. It means the nonpartisan commitment to public education is weaker.
Expanding public funds to multiple sources of education leaves behind the commitment to an efficient system, another requirement of the constitution.
4 funding mechanisms are being used or considered to transfer public funds to other education options:
This expansion jeopardizes a well-funded and strong system of public education. The lack of public oversight of these alternative education sources makes choice a higher priority than quality education.
Expanding public funds to multiple sources of education leaves behind the commitment to an efficient system, another requirement of the constitution.
4 funding mechanisms are being used or considered to transfer public funds to other education options:
- Vouchers
- Tax Credits
- Charter School Tuition
- Education Savings Accounts
This expansion jeopardizes a well-funded and strong system of public education. The lack of public oversight of these alternative education sources makes choice a higher priority than quality education.
Vouchers
Vouchers are tuition scholarships for students to attend a chartered nonpublic school (private school). These are entitlements that are not need or merit-based.
5 different voucher programs target different students:
Voucher students receive more per pupil state funding than public school students:
Funding levels and eligibility for vouchers continue to change. Previously, vouchers were funded by a deduction method that required local districts to pay part of the cost; now, vouchers are directly funded in the state budget.
Vouchers are tuition scholarships for students to attend a chartered nonpublic school (private school). These are entitlements that are not need or merit-based.
5 different voucher programs target different students:
- Autism voucher: available to students with an autism diagnosis
- Jon Peterson Special Needs vouchers: available to students with an IEP
- Cleveland Scholarship vouchers: available to any student in a Cleveland school
- Traditional EdChoice vouchers: available in low-performing, low-income schools
- EdChoice Expansion vouchers: available based on household income
Voucher students receive more per pupil state funding than public school students:
- Autism scholarships provide up to $32,445 per student
- Jon Peterson Special Needs scholarships provide up to $27,000 depending on the student’s diagnosis
- Cleveland vouchers and both EdChoice voucher programs provide $5,500 for K-8 students and $7,500 for high school students
Funding levels and eligibility for vouchers continue to change. Previously, vouchers were funded by a deduction method that required local districts to pay part of the cost; now, vouchers are directly funded in the state budget.
Tax Credits
Households who homeschool can apply for a $250 tax credit to help fund their education expenses.
Charter School Tuition
Charter schools are funded with public funds, but operate under different rules than public school districts, and without public oversight.
Tuition amounts for a charter school student or a voucher student are the same - $5,500 for K-8 students and $7,500 for high school.
Meanwhile, state spending per pupil for public school students is less than $7,000, and in some districts it is less than $600.
Education Savings Accounts
Pending legislation would use public funds to create one-year renewable education savings accounts (ESA) for students, enabling families to shop for the private school option they prefer.
ESA's would provide $5,500 for K-8 students and $7,500 for high school students to attend a participating nonchartered nonpublic school.
There are 615 non-chartered nonpublic schools listed on the Ohio Department of Education website; however, the state does not collect enrollment numbers.