Senate Finance Committee hears hours of proponent testimony for Senate Bill 68, which would create education savings accounts for non‑chartered schools

The Ohio Senate Finance Committee held a second hearing on Senate Bill 68, which would create a non‑chartered educational savings account program to help families pay for tuition and other education expenses at non‑chartered, nonpublic schools. Proponent testimony filled the hearing; no committee vote was taken.

Supporters told the committee that the program would expand school choice to families currently excluded from existing state programs and ease out‑of‑pocket costs that keep some parents from enrolling children in non‑chartered schools. Many speakers also urged removing means‑testing provisions in the bill so that more families could access the full award amount.

“Giving parents more affordable options to find the right fit for their students is an immediate step in improving education in Ohio,” said Robin Hoos, a parent from the Olentangy Local School District, who described moving her children to a non‑chartered school after struggling with their public school placements. Jamie Corey, representing Southridge Christian Academy in Ashtabula County, told senators her school’s enrollment had fallen during the pandemic and that tuition is currently about…