PFPS and Allies Urge Ohio Appellate Court to Uphold Ruling that Voucher Program Violates the State Constitution

Public Funds Public Schools and allies filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in state appellate court in support of the public school districts, students, and families who are challenging Ohio’s “Educational Choice” private school voucher program.

In June 2025, a trial court judge ruled that the voucher program violates several provisions of the state constitution. The lawsuit, Columbus City School District v. State of Ohio, which was originally filed in 2022, is now on appeal.

PFPS’s amicus brief explains how the voucher program threatens the State’s ability to fulfill its constitutional duty to provide a high-quality public education to all students by draining critical funds from public schools. This has particularly devastating impacts on Ohio’s most vulnerable students, including those who are economically disadvantaged and attend already under-resourced schools. Moreover, the brief lays out how vouchers lead to worse educational outcomes for students who use them, while stripping these students of vital legal protections guaranteed in public schools.

“Ohio’s voucher program diverts much needed funding away from public schools that serve the vast majority of students,” said Patrick Cremin, staff attorney at Education Law Center, which directs the PFPS campaign. “Research shows that increasing public school funding leads to better academic and life outcomes for students. Instead of undermining public education with expensive and discriminatory voucher programs, the State must concentrate on its constitutional obligation to adequately fund public schools.”

PFPS was joined on the brief by the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates and Honesty for Ohio Education. The amici are represented pro bono by Attorney Eric H. Zagrans of Columbus, Ohio.

Related Story:

Ohio Court Strikes Down Private School Voucher Program that Violates State Constitution