More and more suburban districts joining Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit. Why?

November 26, 2024

We have built a strong and growing coalition of school districts as we challenge the constitutionality of private school vouchers in Ohio – urban, rural and yes, suburban.

Recently, the Canfield Board of Education in Mahoning County announced they are considering joining the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit. Read about it here.

“I believe Canfield should join the lawsuit,” said Canfield Board President Nader Atway. “After all, we are advocates for public education,” reported the Vindicator.

Atway told the Vindicator that 90 percent of Ohio’s public school students receive 75 percent of the state’s funding, while 10 percent of Ohio’s students attend private schools and receive 25 percent of the state’s funding.

Canfield would be the latest suburban school district to join VHO, following another Mahoning County district, Poland Local, that signed on to the lawsuit in October.

Upper Arlington near Columbus joined earlier this year, and other suburban districts across the state are seriously considering as our numbers grow.

Why are these suburban schools joining?

Because Vouchers Hurt suburban districts the same way they hurt urban and rural districts by robbing from the public and giving to private schools.

In Canfield, the number of students taking private school vouchers grew by 407 percent in the 2023-24 school year.

In Poland, the percentage grew by 813 percent, and in Upper Arlington, by 2,672 percent.

This is what universal voucher programs do to public schools. The families taking vouchers in places like Canfield, Poland, Upper Arlington and other suburban districts are not moving their children from public to private schools. They are already enrolled so they are getting a refund or rebate on their tuition.

The funding formula passed by Ohio lawmakers who support universal vouchers and Gov. Mike DeWine shortchanges all public schools.

And this is forcing more and more public schools to go back to voters with levies to make up the lost public dollars.

As a board member, joining the lawsuit is standing up for your local home and property owners, and more and more suburban district board members are facing this reality.

Is your district part of our lawsuit? Check here.

If not, why not? Join here.