Poll: Where Do You Stand on Ohio’s Proposed New School Voucher Bill?

Last week, The Plain Dealer broke down Ohio House bill 136, a bill that, if passed, would greatly increase the number of students eligible for private school vouchers.

Basically, the bill would change the current system, which is based on whether a student’s assigned school is failing, to one based on family income. Proponents say this bill would increase parental choice.

Brecksville-Broadview Heights Superintendent Scot Prebles said at a board meeting this fall that families would end up having to pay twice—the district would likely have to raise millage to make up for money lost, he said. The bill would take the money for the vouchers from the students’ home districts. Families whose income is less than $95,000 would be eligible.

Around the state, school districts have been speaking out on the bill, which has yet to come to a vote before the full House. Locally, the and the have voted on resolutions opposing the bill.

And while the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Board of Education hasn’t approved any official resolutions, members offered strong words against the bill during a meeting earlier this fall. Board President George J. Balasko said the bill would redirect local dollars to other schools. And member Alan Scheufler took it one step further, saying he thought the governor was moving to privatize education.

“It’s a clear course where that’s headed,” Scheufler said.

While member David Tryon disagreed with Scheufler’s statement, saying the voucher program does need to be expanded, he also disagreed with the idea of taking away local tax money.

Where do you stand on this issue? Let us know by taking our unscientific poll and then sharing your point of view in the comments.