Ohio
U.S.
Rank
Rank
#4 B
Overall PPI Score: 84%
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Leadership
Your Governor:
Mike DeWine (R) (75)
First term began in 2019 (two-term limit). Re-elected in 2022.
Governor DeWine seized the moment and signed into law a major expansion of the Education Choice Scholarship making it accessible to all K-12 students across the state. Community (charter) schools also received a major boost with legislation that provides 92% of the funding of traditional public schools. Like the Wright Brothers, Governor DeWine has parent power soaring in Ohio.
STATE LEGISLATURE:
The legislature answered the call to increase parent power and gave the Governor two key victories with legislation that led to a vast expansion of education freedom making all K-12 students eligible for the Education Choice Scholarship Program and an increase that puts community schools closer to full funding equity with their traditional counterparts. The sum total of all of the legislative efforts equals more tax dollars following students.
Constitutional Issues
Ohio's Constitution, while having no Blaine Amendment, was reviewed by the US Supreme Court, which upheld the Cleveland Scholarship program in Zelman v Simmons-Harris in 2002. Since then, Ohio educational choice programs have continued to be litigated - and upheld.
Transparency
School and district report cards are located on the homepage of Ohio's Department of Education website, and the state provides resources in multiple places for users to understand the report. The user-friendly report card dashboard offers a clear and easy-to-navigate interface, providing summative ratings in each section based on performance measures. Detailed data on student achievement, progress, gap closing, graduation rate, improving at-risk readers, and preparedness for the future can be explored by clicking through tabs.
Parents can conveniently explore educational options for their child through the easily accessible "Parent" section of the website.
School board elections in Ohio align with the general election cycle, empowering parents with greater influence in their decision-making due to increased voter turnout.