It would seem to be a no-brainer to require that schools receiving Ohio taxpayer-funded private school education vouchers must account for the use of that money.
That was the requirement of a bill making its way through the General Assembly. Except now it has been amended to remove the disclosure and testing requirements.
The Ohio House Primary and Secondary Education Committee last week eliminated some key provisions in House Bill 407, those requiring private schools to submit an annual report to be posted online, including how voucher funds were spent.
The committee also eliminated a requirement that scholarship students take the same state standardized tests that public school students take. In its first year, spending on scholarship vouchers — taxpayer-funded payments to private schools on behalf of children attending those schools — is close to $1 billion. Can the state justify making those expenditures without knowing for certain how the schools are using the money, or whether the children are learning?
At present, it’s reasonable to say yes, because of the history of private schools, which have a reputation for educational competence leading to high graduation rates and students going on to college. It is known that the schools have relatively few frills and pay their staff less than public school systems pay their staff.
Whether this will continue into the future with the addition of $1 billion in taxpayer funds to be accessed remains to be determined.
Private, religious schools have been thrifty and low-budget out of necessity, with feelings of religious conviction often offsetting the low pay. Those feelings will continue. Students with family income up to 200 percent of the poverty level must not be billed beyond the full amount provided by the state. Tuition above the state stipend can escalate when family income is above the 200 percent threshold. But private schools cannot simply add the state per-pupil payment to their current tuition.
The reality of a new source of revenue changes the expectations for these schools.
They should have to show the public how the money is being spent, and there should be a requirement that student scores are reported. It’s a reasonable expectation and trade-off.
Taxpayers will not want tax funds to go to unregulated private schools that produce classes of students who earn low test scores.
Parents should be able to choose the education they feel best serves their children’s needs and the state should be satisfied with any school that meets its expectations for a well-educated child.
There is nothing about disclosure of salaries and test scores that conflicts with either of those very legitimate goals. The requirements for disclosure and testing should be added back to the bill.
First Published November 30, 2024, 5:00 a.m.
