An Ohio country judge ruled this week that Ohio’s school voucher program is unconstitutional, marking a significant development in a legal battle brought by more than 300 public school districts across the state.
The ruling stems from a lawsuit filed by the coalition Vouchers Hurt Ohio Schools, which argues that the state’s practice of allocating over $1 billion annually for private school tuition exacerbates educational inequality and furthers segregation.
The decision has drawn praise from public education leaders.
Judge Jaiza Page highlighted the consequences of the current funding model, particularly in districts like Cleveland Heights-University Heights, where underfunding has led to teacher layoffs, overcrowded classrooms, and deteriorating school infrastructure. She concluded these issues are rooted in the state’s school-funding structure.
Northeast Ohio’s Akron and Shaker Heights are among the districts that joined the lawsuit.
Akron Board Member Barbara Sykes urged lawmakers to reconsider their approach as the state finalizes its next two-year budget.
However, voucher advocates are pushing back with an appeal.
The ruling has been stayed, meaning the voucher program will continue during the appeals process.
Meanwhile, budget negotiations continue at the Statehouse. While some districts, such as Akron and Shaker Heights, are expected to see modest funding increases, others in Northeast Ohio may face significant cuts. All three versions of the state budget — from the House, Senate, and Governor — propose increases to private school voucher funding, potentially topping $2.4 billion over the next two years.
As the legal fight continues, public education leaders hope the court’s decision prompts serious reflection on how Ohio funds its schools — and who benefits.
