Ohio Senate Advances Universal Vouchers in Bold School Choice Push

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Senate approved a measure Tuesday to expand the EdChoice Scholarship Program to universal eligibility for all K-12 students starting in fiscal year 2024, a move projected to add up to $528 million annually to state expenditures.[3] Senate Bill 11, championed by school choice advocates, would extend vouchers to roughly 101,000 additional students, including the 90,500 currently in chartered nonpublic schools without scholarships.[3] The Buckeye Institute praised the bill for seizing Ohio's budget surplus to grant every family access, aligning with universal programs in states like Arizona and Florida.[1] Under prior expansions in House Bill 33, signed by Gov. Mike DeWine on July 3, eligibility reached families at 450% of the federal poverty level for full scholarships of $6,165 for K-8 students and $8,407 for high schoolers, with sliding scales up to $650 and $950 for those above 750% FPL.[2] The Senate's push builds on this, raising homeschool tax credits and addressing a 25% funding gap for charter schools versus traditional districts.[1] Proponents highlight a $3,000 boost for disadvantaged students in high-performing charters via the Quality Community School Support Fund, plus $500 per charter student for facilities.[1] Opposition from groups like the Ohio School Boards Association points to fiscal strain on public schools, noting that in 2023-24, nearly 69,000 new EdChoice vouchers went mostly to existing private school families, with private enrollment rising just 3,700 amid $432 million in upcoming tuition subsidies.[4] The Senate's funding plan boosts state foundation aid by $383 million from FY25 to FY27, with traditional districts up 2.4%, charters 9.7% and joint vocational districts 13.6%.[5] It phases in Fair School Funding Plan elements, blending meals-based and direct certification for low-income counts, starting 75-25 in FY26.[5] As the bill heads to conference amid budget debates, it intersects with Senate Bill 93's proposal for a new financing system via statewide property and sales taxes for per-pupil payments to public and nonpublic schools.[6] In Cleveland and Columbus districts facing enrollment drops, the shift could reshape local education landscapes, pitting choice expansion against public funding equity.