More than 120 school districts across Ohio, representing 20% of the state's total, are reportedly trimming their budgets due to declining state support for public education. This comes as the combined cost for charter schools and universal vouchers is projected to approach $4 billion in the upcoming FY2026-FY2027 state budget. Of this total, various voucher programs alone are expected to account for $2.4 billion, according to recent information.
The strain on public school funding is traced back to 1997, when Ohio’s original charter school legislation was enacted as a "pilot program" centered in Lucas County. Since then, the growth of educational vouchers has followed a similar pattern, expanding to a point where there is currently no income cap on eligibility for tuition support at the state's private and religious schools.
Statements from legislative leaders offer insight into the state’s approach to public education funding. Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman, identified as a strong supporter of educational vouchers for non-public schools, claimed in 2025 that the Ohio Constitution uniquely "requires the funding of religious education by the state." This statement, however, is noted to contradict Article VI, Section 2 of the state constitution, which specifies that no religious or other sect "shall ever have any exclusive right to, or control of, any part of the school funds of this state."
Another perspective comes from Ohio Senate Education Committee Chair Andrew Brenner. Brenner, who has reportedly received campaign contributions from a charter school operator, made a notable remark in 2014 that public schools are a form of "socialism." More recently, Brenner asserted that rural schools are struggling "because urban school systems [are] spending too much money inefficiently." This assertion is characterized as a deflection from the issue of state budget strain caused by the diversion of public funds to private and religious schools through the universal voucher program. Approximately 70% of the state's 1,300 private schools are sectarian. Brenner will not return for a new term in January after losing renomination in the May primary.
Amid these fiscal challenges, two suggestions have been offered for the legislature to consider as initial steps toward addressing what is described as foundational damage to public education. These proposals focus on a flaw in state law regarding the qualifications of charter school governing board members and on needed curriculum enhancement for positive student personal development.
One suggestion is to incorporate character education into state curriculum models. This would include elements such as caring, honesty, integrity, respect, trustworthiness, and citizenship, as defined by Character Counts, a national organization focused on positive youth development. This idea draws a parallel to Brenner's past promotion of cursive writing for inclusion in the state’s language arts curriculum in 2019, suggesting character education should hold similar importance on the Senate education committee agenda.
A second proposal calls for addressing a specific requirement for charter school governing board members. Currently, Ohio law does not require these members to be "qualified voters," meaning U.S. citizens, unlike those serving on elected public school boards. The Ohio School Boards Association defines a qualified voter as an individual eligible to run for office and serve as a member of a school district board of education. The suggestion emphasizes that since these entities are referred to as "public charter schools" and are supported by public funds, their board members should meet the same citizenship requirements as elected public school board members. States like Michigan and West Virginia reportedly have specific citizenship and residency requirements for their charter school governing boards.
