Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Bill Would Change Eligibility Rules For Private School Vouchers

Ohio Public Radio

An Ohio lawmaker wants to change the eligibility rules for people who want to get scholarships from the state to send their kids to certain private schools.The plan is meant to provide more access for the middle class. Ohio Public Radio's Andy Chow reports.

Republican Senator Matt Huffman of Lima wants to take the state’s various private school voucher programs and combine them into one system. Right now, vouchers go to children in so-called failing school districts, among other considerations.

 

Huffman’s plan would scrap those metrics and just consider income. If a family of four is making less than 200% of the federal poverty level – which is just over $49,000 a year – then the state could provide a voucher of up to $5,000 for K-8 education and $7,500 for high school.

 

Huffman suggests increasing that income level to 400% of poverty – which is a family of four making $96,000 – and the state could provide a reduced voucher of $3,700 for high school.

 

Critics say this would do even more to subsidize private schools and steer away from the original intent of helping families pay for education outside of a failing school district.

 

The vouchers would count towards private schools that are chartered by the state but are not public.

The Statehouse News Bureau was founded in 1980 to provide educational, comprehensive coverage of legislation, elections, issues and other activities surrounding the Statehouse to Ohio's public radio and television stations. To this day, the Bureau remains the only broadcast outlet dedicated to in-depth coverage of state government news and topics of statewide interest. The Bureau is funded througheTech Ohio, and is managed by ideastream. The reporters at the Bureau follow the concerns of the citizens and voters of Ohio, as well as the actions of the Governor, the Ohio General Assembly, the Ohio Supreme Court, and other elected officials. We strive to cover statehouse news, government issues, Ohio politics, and concerns of business, culture and the arts with balance and fairness, and work to present diverse voices and points of view from the Statehouse and throughout Ohio. The three award-winning journalists at the bureau have more than 60 combined years of radio and television experience. They can be heard on National Public Radio and are regular contributors to Morning Edition, All Things Considered and Marketplace. Every weekday, the Statehouse News Bureau produces in-depth news reports forOhio's public radio stations. Those stories are also available on this website, either on the front page or in our archives. Weekly, the Statehouse News Bureau produces a television show from our studios in the Statehouse. The State of Ohio is an unique blend of news, interviews, talk and analysis, and is broadcast on Ohio's public television stations. The Statehouse News Bureau also produces special programming throughout the year, including the Governor's annual State of the State address to the Ohio General Assembly and a five-part year-end review.
Related Content