Ohio is one step closer to a major expansion of its school choice programs. On Wednesday evening, the Ohio Senate passed its version of the Ohio biennial budget that includes significant changes, and advances Agudath Israel’s legislative priorities. In addition to increasing the maximum voucher amounts of the EdChoice Scholarship (from $4,650 to $5,500 for K-8th grade students and from $6,000 to $7,500 for high schoolers), the Senate created several new programs that advance the cause of school choice.
The Senate proposal creates education savings accounts for every single student whose family income is below 300% of the federal poverty level.
These savings accounts will be worth $500 per student in each of the next two years and can be spent on educational activities like tuition, day camp, tutoring, and extra-curricular activities. The Senate also proposed creating a new scholarship tax credit program. The program awards a dollar for dollar tax credit to donors who give up to $1,000 to organizations which grant scholarships to students attending nonpublic schools.
The Senate also improved upon Governor DeWine’s budget proposal that strengthens the school bus transportation program for private school students and increases the funding available for parents who are denied busing. The legislation also enables the direct payment of approximately $1,000 per student to nonpublic schools for textbooks, security, intervention services, and technology (collectively known as auxiliary services); as well as increases the cap on the administrative cost reimbursement which will now provide up to $460 per student to reimburse schools for complying with certain state mandates.
The Senate budget also extends eligibility for the EdChoice scholarship for certain students including:
- Siblings of current EdChoice students;
- Families that agree to accept foster children; and
- Students that previously received a special needs scholarship who no longer need special education services (in addition to the increased scholarship amounts for the special needs scholarship programs)
It also extends EdChoice eligibility for students who were previously eligible based on the old “EdChoice assigned” school list for another year.
Another priority of Agudath Israel was to make sure the funding for the EdChoice Scholarship was provided directly by the state and not deduct the funding from local public-school districts. This will help public schools avoid any negative funding impacts. It also prevents the possibility of a future governor being able to line-item veto the funding for this important program. There are almost 80,000 students using scholarships to attend a school of their choice and these enhancements will continue to build on Ohio’s policy of empowering parents.
Agudath Israel thanks Senate President Matt Huffman, Finance Chairman Matt Dolan, Senator Bill Blessing and so many others for their tireless advocacy moving these important priorities forward. In the next few weeks Agudath Israel looks forward to working with Speaker Cupp, President Huffman, Governor Dewine and members of the House and and Senate as they finalize an agreement through a conference committee.
The budget must be signed into law by July 1st.
