10th District Court of Appeals Affirms EdChoice Private School Vouchers Unconstitutional

October 15, 2026

COLUMBUS – The 10th District Court of Appeals of Ohio today affirmed a lower court ruling that the EdChoice private school voucher system is unconstitutional.

“Today’s 10th District Court of Appeals decision is a victory for public schools, public school children, parents, local communities, and taxpayers. This is a $1 billion boondoggle for mostly religious schools, which decide who they let in and who they shut out. It’s a refund and rebate program for mostly wealthy families whose children were already enrolled in private schools. Local taxpayers are left holding the $2 billion bill. We’re elated that a second court has looked at the facts, and agreed EdChoice vouchers hurt Ohio and are unconstitutional,” said William L. Phillis, speaking on behalf of Vouchers Hurt Ohio and the Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding.

“Vouchers hurt Ohio. The Ohio Constitution is clear. Lawmakers should be using tax dollars to fund a single system of common schools open to all children. EdChoice vouchers create a separate, and unequal system of schools – one for the haves and one for the have nots. Today’s decision is a victory for public schools and all the children in this state,” said former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Eric Brown, who chairs the Vouchers Hurt Ohio Steering Committee.

You can read the full ruling here.

The Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding is working with Vouchers Hurt Ohio, a growing coalition of more than 300 public school districts that have come together to sue the state over the unconstitutional and harmful private school voucher program.