TOLEDO, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine has approved a budget that broadens the scope of private school vouchers, giving more families an opportunity to send their K-12 children to private school. This has raised hopes for many families statewide while also triggering debates on its potential impact on public education.

What You Need To Know

  • For the first time, all Ohio families are eligible for private school vouchers

  • Christi Kujawski is a mom of five kids who will take advantage of the private school voucher program and send her kids to the school she finds fits best for them

  • Kujawski says private school is expensive and these vouchers will help her be able to afford the private education

One of the direct beneficiaries of this move is Christi Kujawski who is a Toledo mother of five kids. Until recently, Kujawski's dream of sending her children to private schools seemed unaffordable. The new state budget, however, offers Kujawski a lifeline with its private school voucher program. 

"This is a good in-between balance of, OK, we can trust what our kids are learning and then they're very transparent. And so we can see the curriculum throughout the year, which is just super helpful," Kujawski said.

Her five children are young. They range from kindergarten to eighth grade. She will be able to get reimbursed more than $30,000 this school year due to private school vouchers.

Previously, the Educational Choice Scholarships were only accessible to families earning less than 250% above the federal poverty line. The new budget doubles the threshold, now giving any Ohio family who earns less than 450% of the federal poverty level the full scholarship amount.

The amount of available scholarship decreases for families earning more than that amount, but every family is eligible to receive at least $600 per student in scholarship money.

The expanded program has raised concerns among those who argue it will detract from public school funding. Lawmakers, groups and public school advocates say it takes away from public education. 

"With K through 12, and really that out of balance and disproportionate way that we're funding and subsidizing the wealthy with their school choice, we could not vote in favor of the budget as a total package," said Sen. Nickie Antonio, Senate Minority Leader.

Joining the criticism, a group of organizations have collectively expressed their opposition to the expanded voucher program. They issued a statement, saying in part: 

"Priority should be given to fully implementing the Fair School Funding Plan so that our public schools, where 90% of students attend school, receive the resources they need instead of expanding unaccountable private school vouchers." 

The statement was from the Ohio Organizing Collaborative Co-Executive Director Molly Shack, Policy Matters Ohio Executive Director Hannah Halbert, Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper, and Ohio Education Association President Scott DiMauro

Despite the ongoing debate, Kujawski remains firm in her belief that as a mother, her priority is her children's well-being.

"Every kid learns so differently. And I can see a lot of kids in the private schools learning just fine in a private school setting and holding their own and being a leader," Kujawski asserted.

Ohioans interested in the private school vouchers can visit education.ohio.gov to find out if they qualify for the scholarship. The website provides comprehensive information on rules, laws, and essential documents related to the Ed Choice Scholarship.