Overview
- House Bill 671, introduced by Rep. Jamie Callender, would allow Ohio to withhold and escrow state funding from any district engaged in litigation over state education policy.
- Under the bill, the Department of Education and Workforce would release withheld funds only after a district terminates or withdraws from the legal action.
- More than 100 districts and public school parents are challenging two EdChoice voucher programs as unconstitutional and harmful to public schools, with voucher spending cited at roughly $1 billion.
- A Franklin County judge ruled in June that EdChoice funding harmed public schools, and the case is now before the 10th District Court of Appeals in Columbus.
- State support averaged 37% of district budgets last year, signaling significant fiscal risks for litigating districts if funding is withheld, and the measure is at an early stage in the Ohio House.