School Vouchers: A Handout to the Wealthy, Not a Hand Up for Low-Income Families
Ohio’s school voucher program claims to offer a lifeline to low-income families seeking better educational opportunities. But the numbers tell a different story – one of a system that funnels tax dollars into the hands of the wealthy at the expense of our public schools.
A full voucher in Ohio amounts to $8,400. Yet private school tuition ranges from $13,000 to $27,000 per year. Low-income families can’t bridge that $4,600 to $18,600 gap. This program fails to aid the 40% of wage-earners desperate for quality education but unable to invest an extra $18,000 per child.
“School vouchers are nothing more than coupons for the wealthy,” says Joe Salvato, a candidate committed to education reform. “We’re diverting desperately needed funds from our public schools and giving them to upper-middle-class and wealthy families who would have sent their kids to private schools regardless. It’s a handout to those who need it least.”
The impact on public schools is staggering. Already struggling to pass levies, they’re forced to do more with less as voucher dollars drain from their budgets. “We need to support our public schools, the backbone of our communities, not undermine them and steal their funding to give to wealthy families,” Salvato emphasizes.
Rose Lounsbury, a teacher and education advocate, echoes this sentiment. “We are sold the idea of vouchers as a way to help low-income kids get out of striuggling schools and go to private school,” says Rose. “You show me the family in poverty that has five grand sitting around to make up the difference between their $8,400 voucher and the cost of entry to the lowest priced private high school […] we can see clearly what this is.” Rose is a candidate for the Ohio House of Representatives in District 36, and has taken a strong stance (similar to Joe’s) against vouchers as presently constituted. “This is not going to low-income families in struggling schools. It’s going to families of means […] now they’re getting a discount on tuition.”
It’s time to reassess our priorities. By ending the school voucher program, we can direct those funds back into our public schools and create a more equitable education system. Our low-income families and the schools they depend on deserve better. The future of Ohio depends on it.
If you agree that our tax dollars should support public schools, not subsidize private tuition for the wealthy, get involved.
www.JoeSalvato29.com
