EdChoice Money Will Flow to Public Schools

September 1, 2026

Good Tuesday morning,

Pro-voucher advocates like to try to diminish the impact of our lawsuit by stating there is no guarantee public schools will get more money if EdChoice vouchers are ruled unconstitutional.

Well, they’re wrong.

Everyone knows there are no guarantees in life except death and taxes, and in the case of this pro-voucher legislature – more local property taxes.

But here is our guarantee.

We guarantee that if lawmakers would live up to their oaths of office, and commit to funding their own Cupp Patterson Fair School Funding Plan, then public schools would get more money when EdChoice is ruled unconstitutional.

Pro-voucher lawmakers shortchanged public schools nearly $3 billion in the current two-year state budget while funneling nearly $2 billion to EdChoice.

In doing so, they are increasing the over-reliance on local property taxes to pay for public schools. This is unconstitutional.

Here’s the thing: the money for EdChoice private school vouchers comes out of the same line-item in the two-year state budget that pays for the state’s share of funding public schools.

These lawmakers don’t separate the two because then it would be glaringly apparent how they are underfunding public schools.

Policy Matters reports the state share of funding local schools was as high as 47 percent in 1999. It is estimated to be as low as 32 percent in the current school year.

So yes, we guarantee if pro-voucher lawmakers would do their job and fund public schools, then the money from the unconstitutional EdChoice private school voucher program would go to public schools.

Is your district part of our historic lawsuit? Check here.

If not, why not? Join here.

Sincerely,

Vouchers Hurt Ohio