Gadfly Bites 7/23/25—“EdChoice is the law of the land for the coming school year”

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Only one story to talk about today. But as often happens around here, it’s important enough to look at in a bit of depth. A press conference was held earlier this week in regard to the future of the EdChoice Scholarship Program. Speakers included Ohio House Speaker Matt Huffman, state Rep. Jamie Callender, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost. There was even a parent there who depends on EdChoice to help access her children’s education, ready to discuss her own very important perspective on the issue. The point of the presser was to reassure all the EdChoice moms and dads across the state that the program will continue uninterrupted for the upcoming school year, despite the recent, well-publicized ruling by Franklin County Judge Jaiza Page (Columbus School for Girls, Class of 2002 – Go Unicorns!). In case you didn’t know, school starts as early as August 11 in some areas of the state—less than three weeks from now—which explains why making such a statement clearly, emphatically, and on the record was so important. So shame on the Statehouse News Bureau (and far too many other media outlets like them) for focusing instead on the very-much-not-news point that the state is imminently going to appeal Judge Unicorn’s ruling (um…surprise?) to the exclusion of everything else that was said, and which was actually important news. (Statehouse News Bureau, 7/21/25)
Kudos, however, to Spectrum News for covering it the only proper way, including the primary quote of note—“EdChoice is the law of the land for the coming school year”—from AG Yost. (Spectrum News, 7/22/25)
Dayton Daily News gets mixed reviews from me for their coverage: Foregrounding Yost and the smooth continued operation of EdChoice for the rapidly-impending school year, but also seeking out, getting comment from, and then giving way too much ground to the voucher grouchers and their tedious legal hot air. Which should probably be saved for the appeals court where they’re going to need it. (Dayton Daily News, 7/22/25)
Ditto for ABC 6 News here in Columbus, who sticks with the appeal headline and framing per Central Office, but is also the only outlet I’ve seen so far to actually quote Ms. Williams about how important the EdChoice program has been to her children’s education. Thank heavens for that at least. (ABC 6 News, Columbus, 7/22/25)