Derek Merrin: 2025: An Ohio Judge Ruled That The State’s Private School Voucher Program Was Unconstitutional And Took Money Away From Constitutionally-Required Public Schools

Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio’s FY 2024-25 Budget Increased Eligibility For “EdChoice Expansion Scholarships.” “Lawmakers expanded the Education Choice-Expansion eligibility to 450% of the poverty line last year through the state budget — creating near-universal school vouchers. This means a family of four above the $135,000 income threshold can still be eligible for at least 10% of the maximum scholarship. K-8 students can receive a $6,165 scholarship and high schoolers can receive a $8,407 scholarship in state funding under the expansion. There were 93,159 applicants for the EdChoice Expansion scholarships and 89,794 were awarded scholarships, according to ODEW data. The amount of EdChoice-Expansion scholarship payments more than tripled from fiscal year 2023 to fiscal year 2024.” [Ohio Capital Jouranl, 10/25/24]

2025: An Ohio Judge Ruled That The EdChoice Private School Voucher Program Was Unconstitutional. “The group of around 200 public school districts suing the state over private school vouchers got a win in a Columbus court today, as a judge ruled the EdChoice private school voucher program is unconstitutional. The lawsuit was filed by the group Vouchers Hurt Ohio more than two years ago, but this isn’t the end for the case.” [Statehouse News Bureau, 6/24/25]

• The Judge Ruled That Private School Vouchers Took Money From Constitutionally-Required Public Schools. “EdChoice has been expanded to provide private school vouchers to any Ohio family that wants them. The expansion of EdChoice takes money from constitutionally required public schools, according to a 47-page decision from Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Jaiza Page.” [Statehouse News Bureau, 6/24/25]