COLUMBUS, Ohio (ABP) — Ohio's new Democratic governor is proposing significant cutbacks in the state's groundbreaking school-voucher program.
In his first “State of the State” speech March 14, Gov. Ted Strickland proposed that the voucher program be eliminated — except for schools in Cleveland — as part of a $1 billion cutback in the state's budget.
The program allows students in public schools the government deems “failing” to receive scholarships to attend the private school of their choice — including religious schools.
The Ohio voucher system was at issue in a landmark 2002 Supreme Court decision on voucher programs that include religious schools. In Zelman v. Simmons-Harris, a closely-divided court said such programs do not violate the First Amendment's ban on government support for religion — as long as voucher recipients have a “true private choice” between sectarian, secular and public schools.
According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, the program provides tuition vouchers of up to $5,000 per year for high-schoolers, and up to $4,250 annually for younger students.
Strickland is Ohio's first Democratic chief executive in 16 years, and the state legislature is still controlled by Republicans. They reportedly greeted his announcement with skepticism, while public-education groups hailed it.
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