Ohio Plans Appeal Against Partial Unconstitutional Ruling On EdChoice Voucher Program

Ohio plans to appeal a Franklin County judge's ruling that declared the state's EdChoice Scholarship Program partially unconstitutional. The program provides taxpayer-funded vouchers for students to attend private schools and has expanded recently to include all families regardless of income, leading to a sharp increase in participation and state spending. Opponents argue that the program diverts over $700 million from public schools, undermining the state's constitutional obligation to provide a thorough and efficient public education system. Supporters, including Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and House Speaker Matt Huffman, defend the program's constitutionality and emphasize its role in offering educational choice, with the voucher program continuing during the ongoing legal process. The appeal will be filed in the 10th District Court of Appeals, with the Ohio Supreme Court likely the final venue. Both sides remain steadfast, with voucher proponents asserting that Ohio can support both public schools and private vouchers, while critics maintain that public funds should not support private education.