Ohio Supreme Court skips class, denying justice to families

COLUMBUS – When additional school scholarships were placed on hold by the State Legislature, parents and private schools led by a public policy family group took state officials to court. Unfortunately they were met with deaf ears.

Recently the Ohio Supreme Court dismissed Citizens for Community Values (CCV) v DeWine, a legal challenge to legislation freezing EdChoice scholarship enrollment passed in January 2020.

“The Ohio Supreme Court should be ashamed of their blatant disregard of the law and well-being of children, ” says Aaron Baer, President of CCV. “The audacity of the Justices to sit eight months on an emergency motion, then blame the “passage of time” for rendering a case moot is the epitome of arrogance.”

In the aftermath of a state school report card, the EdChoice voucher program for kids in failing schools was supposed to increase from 517 school buildings to 1200, but a COVID-19 relief bill last March froze the current EdChoice school list to 517.

Ironically members of the General Assembly acknowledged they were voting for the relief bill that was unconstitutional. In response, CCV sued the State officials .

“Under the leadership of former Speaker Larry Householder, the General Assembly rammed the relief bill through and Governor DeWine signed this unconstitutional bill stripping tens of thousands of families access to EdChoice vouchers,” Baer explained.

“Because the State Supreme Court dragged their feet and would not stand up for the law, families are left scrambling trying to figure out how to educate their children. With the bailing out of former Speaker Householder’s unconstitutional maneuver, it can be said “justice delayed is justice denied.”

Baer is part of a network of family and private school syndicates called the Ohio Christian Education Network, which endeavors to see Ohio offer “true-choice” to families. The network supports initiatives promoting school choice programs ensuring private Christian schools do not have to compromise their operating principles.

“As COVID has shown, it is essential for families to have educational options. Citizens for Community Values and the OCEN will continue to fight for families and schools. Ohio children and families should know we hear their voices, even if the seven justices on the court are ignoring them.”