1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

Childhood education is a vital responsibility for states, and any diversion of funds from public schools to private voucher programs would disproportionately harm underprivileged families. The proposed cuts to Ohio's Fair School Funding Plan threaten to increase the burden on local property taxes and force districts to make detrimental reductions like cutting staff, eliminating extracurriculars, reducing instructional hours, and increasing class sizes. This undermines equal educational opportunities for all children, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds who rely heavily on adequately funded public schools. While school choice is a consideration, funneling nearly $1 billion into the EdChoice voucher system with minimal accountability measures neglects the majority of students remaining in public education. Any funding shifts must prioritize equitable, high-quality learning for all students, not benefit only a select few. A strong public education system is crucial for creating an informed citizenry and developing our future workforce. I urge maintaining the commitments to the Fair School Funding Plan to invest in all children's futures.