Is Ohio prioritizing school choice over public education?

Is Ohio prioritizing school choice over public education? This article from Cleveland.com details how Gov. Mike DeWine’s proposed budget would cut $103 million from traditional public schools over the next two years while increasing funding for charter schools by $221.8 million and private school vouchers by $265.4 million—343 of Ohio’s 609 school districts would lose state foundation aid in the next fiscal year, with suburban districts facing the largest reductions.

Critics argue that diverting funds to less-accountable alternatives could lead to higher property taxes and fewer opportunities for public school students. The administration defends the budget as a shift toward funding students rather than specific districts.

The implications? A budget that reinforces Ohio’s trend of prioritizing school choice over public education funding, raising concerns about equity, accountability, and long-term consequences for public school students and communities.