Last week, the Ohio House of Representatives passed its state budget, which included a plan to provide 18,000 vouchers for more than 30 school districts in 2006 and double that number in 2007, which would make it the largest voucher program in the country. The proposal is expected to meet fierce resistance from Senate Democrats, but voucher proponents in both the House and Senate say they're confident it will pass. Don't expect smooth sailing, though: Opposition forces such as the Ohio Education Association are already gearing up with the dread "Three Ls": lobbyists, lawyers, and lawsuits. Nationwide, it's two steps forward, one step back on vouchers - Ohio is moving ahead but Indiana's voucher proposal (see http://www.edexcellence.net/gadfly/issue.cfm?issue=184#2201) bit the dust last week.
"School vouchers stopped in house," by Mary Beth Schneider and Staci Hupp, Indianapolis Star, April 7, 2005
"Expansion of school choice clears the Ohio House," Milton & Rose D. Friedman Foundation, April 15, 2005
"School voucher debate undergoes 'sea-change,'" by Doug Oplinger and Dennis J. Willard, Akron Beacon-Journal, April 18, 2005