A coalition of public school districts aimed at challenging private school voucher programs is speaking out after Ohio Representative Jamie Callender (R) proposed a bill, and then provided a statement that changed his stance, to withhold state funds for public schools suing over Ohio's private school voucher program.

The Vouchers Hurt Ohio group, which consists of more than 330 public schools in the state, has set out to challenge the "unconstitutional" EdChoice private school voucher program that will cost taxpayers $1.7 billion over the next two years, the coalition stated in a news release.

EdChoice is a nonprofit organization that works with students and families to "choose the school environment that fits their children's needs best," including providing vouchers to students to attend private schools through state funding.

The Vouchers Hurt Ohio's recent statements stem from Callender sharing plans with a Cleveland news station to amend his proposal of House Bill 671, which was set to withhold all public tax dollars from the state to public schools that joined the Vouchers Hurt Ohio. Instead, Callender's stance is to only withhold the fees the districts are paying to fund the lawsuit.

"The bill will still penalize school districts and continues to be unconstitutional. Whether it is a dime or $1 million, it's unconstitutional," Eric Brown, former chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, stated. "The legislature should be listening to Judge Page, and address the unconstitutional EdChoice private school voucher program that is siphoning away $1.7 billion from underfunded, shortchanged public schools and public school children." Brown also served as a Columbus City Schools Board of Education member.

In June 2025, Judge Jaiza Page of Franklin County ruled that the EdChoice program was unconstitutional, but the state has since appealed the decision.

According to the Vouchers Hurt Ohio website, several Mahoning Valley school districts have been members for one or more years since 2021, including Poland, Liberty, Springfield Local, South Range and Youngstown City.

"Rep. Callender presents his proposed legislation as though the coalition is somehow wasting school funds, using it on frivolous litigation. Our lawsuit uncovered a blatant problem in the way state lawmakers continue to inadequately and inequitably fund our public schools. Judge Page has already found this program, EdChoice, to be unconstitutional. State lawmakers should be appreciative that we have uncovered this unconstitutional issue so they can fix it," William L. Phillis, with Vouchers Hurt Ohio and the Ohio Coalition for Equity & Adequacy of School Funding, stated.