An Ohio appeals court ruled the EdChoice voucher program unconstitutional, saying it diverts hundreds of millions from public schools while private schools can reject costly students.
01Summary
- 01The Tenth District Court of Appeals on Oct. 15 upheld a June 2025 ruling that EdChoice violates Ohio’s constitutional duty to maintain a thorough public school system.
- 02Only 24% of first-time EdChoice Expansion recipients in fiscal 2025 had attended a public school the year before.
- 03Ohio spent about $776 million on EdChoice programmes in fiscal 2025, while public schools received roughly $700m less than the state’s own funding formula required.
- 04Private schools retain discretion to reject pupils with behavioural problems, disabilities or poor academic performance, leaving public schools with costlier students.
- 05The ruling is on hold pending an appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court, and the programme continues uninterrupted.
02Why it matters
This matters because taxpayer money meant for education is flowing to private schools while public schools struggle with underfunding, heating repairs and cuts to services like buses and arts programmes.
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