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Legislative liaison warns proposed bills could cut funding to districts challenging EdChoice
Summary
At the Talawanda City School District board meeting, legislative liaison Mr. Wyatt outlined the EdChoice litigation and several pending bills — including House Bill 671, described as targeting districts in the lawsuit — and urged monitoring of state legislation that could reduce local control and revenue.
Mr. Wyatt, the district’s legislative liaison, told the board on June 18 that the district should watch several state bills that could affect Talawanda’s finances and local control. He summarized the ongoing EdChoice lawsuit (now before the 10th District Court of Appeals) and said the program has shifted “over $700 million in public money” into private schools; he added that statewide totals had risen into the billions. "If a school takes public dollars, it should answer to the public for those dollars," Wyatt said, arguing for greater accountability for private schools that accept vouchers.
Wyatt singled out House Bill 671, which he described as a measure that would withhold state funding from more than 330 districts that are part of the EdChoice challenge “until they either lose the case or drop out,” calling it a "bully bill." He said the district will continue to monitor litigation outcomes and any legislative action. Wyatt also described two reform bills he supports: one to require annual audits and reporting for voucher‑accepting private schools (attendance, background checks, five‑year tuition trends, IEP counts and graduation/dropout rates) and House Bill 643, a bipartisan proposal to cap voucher eligibility for higher‑income households.
Wyatt also raised concern about Senate Bill 311, which he said would force the sale of under‑occupied school property (properties under 60% occupied) and limit local districts’ discretion by prioritizing offers to charter schools. On property tax changes passed in late 2025, he told the board that state adjustments will affect tax bills this summer and could squeeze district revenues despite offering taxpayer relief.
Why it matters: Several of the items Wyatt described could shift funding, reporting requirements and local control. The board discussed that such state actions may have practical effects on budgeting, staffing and property management decisions at the local level. The district said it will continue to track litigation and legislation and report back to the board.
