At a time when some consider public education under attack in Ohio, a group called Honesty for Ohio Education has stepped forward to advocate for public schools and push back on private school voucher funding.
The relatively young nonprofit, which calls itself nonpartisan, launched a campaign earlier this year at a press conference in Columbus, pushing for more transparency around the use of school vouchers in Ohio. It’s working with two Ohio Senators, a Democrat and a Republican, to introduce Senate Bill 443, the “Take the Dough, We Gotta Know Act.” The bill would require more transparency from private schools receiving voucher funding.
While the bill hasn’t had a hearing yet, Honesty for Ohio Education Executive Director Christina Collins said the group is taking an all-in approach amid a “crisis” in public education. It’s launched a website called “Vouchers Aren’t Free,” alleging that the private-school scholarships are “theft from public education.” It’s calling on people to support a lawsuit filed by more than 300 schools challenging the constitutionality of vouchers. And the group has been sharing information via its website on how public school funding has been impacted by policy-makers decisions…