When we let vouchers drain our schools, it hurts us all.
It’s true. Universal vouchers are out of control with zero academic or financial accountability, and with a disastrous impact upon local public school districts.
How bad?
Fourteen school districts in Ohio have had more than a 2000 percent increase in the number of students receiving vouchers during this first year of universal vouchers. A large number of the schools with these massive increases are suburban, considered wealthy and fare among the best academically in the state.
Fairbanks Local saw a 2025.0% increase. Nordonia Hills City, 2055.0%. Aurora City saw a 2500.0% increase in the number of students receiving vouchers.
See the 14 school districts and their increases here.
Andy Wilson, a member of the Vouchers Hurt Ohio steering committee and a former Fairborn City Schools board member, found this information in data maintained by the new Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Development.
Andy didn’t stop there.
He also found 28 schools with voucher increases of 1000 and 1999 percent and the trend continues with most being wealthy, suburban districts.
See the 28 here.
And there are 32 districts with an increase of voucher students between 500 and 999 percent.
The Ohio DEWD is accepting applications for vouchers for this year until the end of this month so we won’t have final numbers or financial figures until the 2024-24 school year.
We do know the vast majority of schools accepting EdChoice vouchers are religious and most students were already enrolled in private schools.
The aim of this program is clear. Public tax dollars provide rebates and refunds for families, mostly wealthy, to continue to attend private, religious schools.
Ohio is creating a separate and unequal system of schools right now. This is not a drill. And it is only going to get worse.
Is your district part of our lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of private school vouchers? Check here.
If not, why not? Learn how to join here..