Wednesday, September 21, 2011

BREAKING NEWS: Bipartisan Ohio Voucher Plan Passes Out of House Education Committee

We're excited to report some breaking news from the Buckeye State this evening. The Ohio House Education Committee passed House Bill 136—a plan that would create a statewide, means-tested voucher program—by a 12-10 vote on Wednesday night, setting the stage for the full State House to vote on the legislation this fall.

The bill calls for the creation of the Parental Choice and Taxpayer Savings (PACT) Scholarship Program, which would grant low- and middle-income Ohio students scholarships to go to private schools of their parents' choice. If enacted, Ohio would be the first state in the entire country with five school choice programs.

Our friends at School Choice Ohio were instrumental in this, the first step towards expanding educational opportunities to even more kids throughout the Buckeye State. The state is already home to the flagship EdChoice Scholarship Program, as well as three additional voucher programs helping students with autism, special needs, and low-income children in the Cleveland area, respectively.

Chad Aldis, the executive director of School Choice Ohio, praised the committee's passage of H.B. 136:
Every parent wants to give their child the best education possible, but for many parents across the state, their limited income restricts the educational options available for their children. With House Bill 136 passing out of committee, we are one step closer to giving every family in Ohio the opportunity to choose the best learning environment for their child, regardless of where they live and how much money they make.
The strength of Ohio's bipartisan school choice coalition will be integral in making the PACT Scholarship Program a reality. Already, the legislation—sponsored by stalwart school choice champion Rep. Matt Huffman—has support from both Democrats and Republicans. In total, 37 lawmakers in the House have already signed on.

You can read the whole release here, and to learn about the rest of Ohio's school choice options, click here.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

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