On June 11, the Ohio Senate released a proposed budget plan including a number of enhancements that may benefit families who desire to educate their children in nonpublic schools. Catholic schools throughout Ohio would be options for families choosing programs strengthened by the proposed plan.
The budget proposal provides additional funding for the Cleveland Scholarship Program, along with procedural changes that should enable families better access. A funding increase and accompanying rule change for the EdChoice Expansion scholarship for families of limited income will permit eligible students in grades K-12 to apply by 2020. The procedural changes to the traditional EdChoice scholarship will strengthen the families’ ability to access the program as well as schools’ ability to serve more students.
“We believe education, including Catholic education, is a valuable public good, and we are grateful to Senate leadership, especially Senate President Larry Obhof and Senator Matt Dolan, chair of the finance committee, for their support of initiatives that enable Ohio’s parents to choose the best educational settings for their children,” said Dr. Frank O’Linn, secretary for Catholic Education and superintendent of schools at the Diocese of Cleveland.
The Ohio Senate’s version of the budget will have opportunity for amendment before it is voted on by the full senate. A conference committee representing both house and senate reconciles significant differences between the two bodies’ proposals prior to submitting to the governor for his signature.
To read the full bill (HB 166) adopted by Ohio Senate Finance, view appropriations and comparisons, click here to be directed to the Ohio Legislative Service Commission.
