Ohio School Choice

Introduction 

Over two decades ago, IJ successfully defended Ohio’s first school choice program before both the Ohio Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court. In that case, Simmons-Harris v. Goff, the Ohio Supreme Court held that school choice programs were consistent with the state constitution. Rejecting the argument that the Ohio constitution implicitly forbids alternatives to the public school system, the court held that Ohio could provide additional educational options. The United States Supreme Court affirmed the ruling in the historic decision Zelman v. Simmons-Harris.

Since Simmons-Harris, Ohio has become home to five school choice programs: the Traditional Program, the Expansion Program, the Jon Peterson Special Needs Program, the Autism Scholarship Program, and the Cleveland Scholarship Program. The constitutionality of these types of programs has been reinforced time and again by state and federal courts across the country, including most recently at the United States Supreme Court. In that IJ case, Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, the Court held that an educational choice program may not be invalidated simply because it includes religious options.

Clients  

In response to the recently filed lawsuit, IJ has partnered with local counsel Emmett Robinson to defend EdChoice. IJ and Emmett Robinson are representing five Ohio families who either use or want to apply for the Traditional or Expansion Programs. Each of these families wants their children to be in an educational environment that best suits their needs. IJ filed a petition for these parents to intervene as defendants in the case so that they can argue on behalf of EdChoice and the children who need it.

The Boggs Family  

Christopher and Chelsea Boggs live in Columbus with their three children, each of whom receives a scholarship under the Traditional Program. All three children use their scholarships to attend Tree of Life Christian School in Columbus. The Boggs family prefers Tree of Life because of the school’s strong academics and for the faith-based education it provides.

The Ellis Family  

Brian Ellis lives in Akron along with his wife and their three school-aged children, all of whom receive a scholarship under the Traditional Program. The Ellis children use the scholarships to attend Archbishop Hoban High School and St. Augustine Catholic School. With two disabled children who require special attention, Brian is particularly passionate about keeping his children out of their low-performing, assigned public schools.

The Sliwinski Family  

Kathryn Sliwinski is a single mother who lives in Columbus with her son, who has ADHD. He uses the Traditional Program to attend Blessed Sacrament School in Toledo, where he benefits from the smaller class sizes and special attention he receives. Without the Traditional Program, Kathryn would have no choice but to send her son to his assigned public school.

The Omelsky Family  

Marc Omelsky lives with his wife in Canton, where the two oldest of their four children attend Heritage Christian School using the Expansion Program. It is important to Marc that their children participate in the Expansion Program because Heritage Christian offers their children a better learning environment, stronger academics, and a faith-based education.

The Highley Family  

Benjamin Highley lives with his wife in Middletown. The four youngest of their five children attend Middletown Christian Schools using the Expansion Program. There, they benefit from Middletown Christian’s stronger academics and an education that is more aligned with the family’s worldview.