State Data: Ohio’s Voucher Program No Longer Primarily Aiding Low-Income Students
New state data reveals that nearly 90% of students enrolled in Ohio’s EdChoice-Expansion voucher program this year do not qualify as low-income, marking a major shift from the program’s original intent.
Once aimed at helping low-income students in struggling districts, the program’s expansion has allowed any Ohio student to receive at least a partial scholarship, regardless of income. While wealthier families receive less state money per student, 17% of these scholarships now go to households earning over $200,000 per year.
Despite the surge in voucher participation, private school enrollment has not increased at the same rate, suggesting that many students receiving these scholarships were already attending private schools. Meanwhile, public schools face potential budget cuts as lawmakers debate shifting more funds toward the voucher system.
Critics, including public school advocates and Democratic lawmakers, argue that vouchers no longer prioritize low-income families and divert crucial funding from public education. Additionally, eight Ohio counties lack any eligible EdChoice schools, leaving thousands of students without access to voucher-funded education.
With nearly 1 million students now participating in the EdChoice-Exp program, the debate over school funding continues in the Ohio Legislature ahead of this summer’s budget decisions.
