To follow up with my earlier comment.... I apologize that I missed the point that you don't want private schools to get these funds....as I focused instead on the fact that funds which support public schools are essential for kids of all socio-economic status and for a strong democratic country. I agree that we need to quickly and fully pull all public tax funded money from "private" schools who have no oversight whatsoever, and who can in the privacy of their halls, preach hatred or marginalize people for any reason, politics, religion, employment, economic status, or religion.. People who live decent lives but live under religious beliefs other than the oppressive ideas in fundamentalist Christianity, or any other sect whether or not it's the Christianity currently being promoted by decisions made under this slate of Supreme Court Justices.. We are not intended to be country who is officially a White Supremacist Christian Country....or a Muslim, or Buddhist, and we might remember that the fighting among religions was part of why many of our fore founders left Europe. We do not want to re-create this religious conflict here beginning with educating kids toward a particular set of religious or economic, or political biases.
As a person who went to Catholic schools from third grade through high school and even college, I am shocked that today, such private schools are really only semi-private in practical terms. I always felt that the school district only needed to cover transportation to school, since that's the only aspect of the district a family will use of the services from taxes paid. I could be wrong on that, there could be more services we got free, but that's how I thought it worked.
I'd like to see a breakdown of all funding for public schools vs charter/private schools based on revenue sources, like property tax, income tax, or private tuition. You probably have covered that already, but I don't believe I've seen a report with that information. I also think that it would be interesting to see a per capita analysis of the money spent by the state on public schools vs schools receiving vouchers. I understand it will vary from district to district across the state, but it might be enlightening to see how much taxpayer money goes into each student in a side by side comparison.
I don't have a complete understanding of the whole picture of public vs private education, but I feel that both should have the same high standards for educating our kids, regardless of who pays for it. Seeing that so many students in charter schools are receiving vouchers (many who can already afford to attend without vouchers) and those schools are not required to meet the same standards as public schools, it just doesn't seem right. In order to ensure that the standards are being met, both should be evaluated through testing in the same way and factor in the fact that public schools are required to provide education for all children (regardless of faith, race, economic condition or disability). Ohio's voucher system appears designed to allow private schools remain unaccountable for student achievement results as well as financial transparency. Like you say, it's corrupt.
I would like to see that breakdown too, Bruce. Let's start from the beginning, as most Ohioans undoubtedly have lost track of where that state education money comes from. Republicans are ferociously attacking the state income tax. The astoundingly regressive state lottery is supposed to contribute. But where does the rest come from? I admit that I've lost track...
I am a pepper, have been for years. I love the work being done by preppers for the rest of us. There is one thing wrong with what I see happening in some prepper communities in what seems to be an effort to undermine funding for public education, saying funds are unmonitored, though ironically, the funds are still being used for education and to help your children and imine, children who have no other way to make it up the scale out of poverty and beyond through learning. As you well know, this year Government, under DOGE MAGA or GOP seek all places where money can be suctioned off and redirected away from improving the lives of middle and lower income people (like me), and instead profiting instead the most affluent people on earth, those who together have hoarded more than 90 percent of all the money held by the lower 90 percent of us. Public schools have always been among the first things attacked by the oppressors, the authoritarians, whether they be Communist, White Supremacist or Fascist since dumbing people down makes poor people look ignorant, dehumanized and unworthy, or "less than"., When the Fascists took over Germany using scapegoats, (Jews), now in America, those labeled as scapegoats are (immigrants) (Muslims), (blacks) or (Libtards) the (Woke). As preppers, I ask that you re-evaluate the stance against funds (under any banner) being used for public schools who serve all kids, and who have always helped normal people like you and m. The alternative is having those funds redirected to fund the privileged. the private schools or religious schools, that are run for profit, so their motives are already muddled. But most importantly for your article, these private schools can in the blink of an eye, demonize preppers, who operate outside the "grid" that is used to contain and control all of us. You see, private schools have NO OVERSIGHT EVER and they can still get tax dollars from the rest of us. Is this what you prefer? I think not.
First, thank you, David . . . that's a lot of information to put together! Ohio IS a front runner for "most corrupt state." I've been getting emails and other info for years about the corruption of the charter school industry and their incestuous connections to our Republican state leaders. The EPCOT scandal was nationally notorious and should have taught them a lesson. But they immediately tweaked the system and were right back at it the next year, harder than ever.
I have seen studies about how many Ohioans are outraged by this. But with so many others taking advantage, I do wonder if the sentiment is strong enough to rid ourselves of this disgrace. The public pushback is usually framed, justifiably, as the charter economy is robbing the public schools. That's true, but there's so much more: lack of accountability and transparency as to where these inflated contributions are going, which private interests might be grifting off them -- the incentivizing lobbyist industry alone would warrant a major investigation. Are our state elected officials entangled as the usual suspects?
The spider web created by Republicans to break our educational system and profit in the process is astoundingly obscure.
As I closed this page out, I opened another article I'd saved to read later:
To follow up with my earlier comment.... I apologize that I missed the point that you don't want private schools to get these funds....as I focused instead on the fact that funds which support public schools are essential for kids of all socio-economic status and for a strong democratic country. I agree that we need to quickly and fully pull all public tax funded money from "private" schools who have no oversight whatsoever, and who can in the privacy of their halls, preach hatred or marginalize people for any reason, politics, religion, employment, economic status, or religion.. People who live decent lives but live under religious beliefs other than the oppressive ideas in fundamentalist Christianity, or any other sect whether or not it's the Christianity currently being promoted by decisions made under this slate of Supreme Court Justices.. We are not intended to be country who is officially a White Supremacist Christian Country....or a Muslim, or Buddhist, and we might remember that the fighting among religions was part of why many of our fore founders left Europe. We do not want to re-create this religious conflict here beginning with educating kids toward a particular set of religious or economic, or political biases.
As a person who went to Catholic schools from third grade through high school and even college, I am shocked that today, such private schools are really only semi-private in practical terms. I always felt that the school district only needed to cover transportation to school, since that's the only aspect of the district a family will use of the services from taxes paid. I could be wrong on that, there could be more services we got free, but that's how I thought it worked.
I'd like to see a breakdown of all funding for public schools vs charter/private schools based on revenue sources, like property tax, income tax, or private tuition. You probably have covered that already, but I don't believe I've seen a report with that information. I also think that it would be interesting to see a per capita analysis of the money spent by the state on public schools vs schools receiving vouchers. I understand it will vary from district to district across the state, but it might be enlightening to see how much taxpayer money goes into each student in a side by side comparison.
I don't have a complete understanding of the whole picture of public vs private education, but I feel that both should have the same high standards for educating our kids, regardless of who pays for it. Seeing that so many students in charter schools are receiving vouchers (many who can already afford to attend without vouchers) and those schools are not required to meet the same standards as public schools, it just doesn't seem right. In order to ensure that the standards are being met, both should be evaluated through testing in the same way and factor in the fact that public schools are required to provide education for all children (regardless of faith, race, economic condition or disability). Ohio's voucher system appears designed to allow private schools remain unaccountable for student achievement results as well as financial transparency. Like you say, it's corrupt.
I would like to see that breakdown too, Bruce. Let's start from the beginning, as most Ohioans undoubtedly have lost track of where that state education money comes from. Republicans are ferociously attacking the state income tax. The astoundingly regressive state lottery is supposed to contribute. But where does the rest come from? I admit that I've lost track...
I am a pepper, have been for years. I love the work being done by preppers for the rest of us. There is one thing wrong with what I see happening in some prepper communities in what seems to be an effort to undermine funding for public education, saying funds are unmonitored, though ironically, the funds are still being used for education and to help your children and imine, children who have no other way to make it up the scale out of poverty and beyond through learning. As you well know, this year Government, under DOGE MAGA or GOP seek all places where money can be suctioned off and redirected away from improving the lives of middle and lower income people (like me), and instead profiting instead the most affluent people on earth, those who together have hoarded more than 90 percent of all the money held by the lower 90 percent of us. Public schools have always been among the first things attacked by the oppressors, the authoritarians, whether they be Communist, White Supremacist or Fascist since dumbing people down makes poor people look ignorant, dehumanized and unworthy, or "less than"., When the Fascists took over Germany using scapegoats, (Jews), now in America, those labeled as scapegoats are (immigrants) (Muslims), (blacks) or (Libtards) the (Woke). As preppers, I ask that you re-evaluate the stance against funds (under any banner) being used for public schools who serve all kids, and who have always helped normal people like you and m. The alternative is having those funds redirected to fund the privileged. the private schools or religious schools, that are run for profit, so their motives are already muddled. But most importantly for your article, these private schools can in the blink of an eye, demonize preppers, who operate outside the "grid" that is used to contain and control all of us. You see, private schools have NO OVERSIGHT EVER and they can still get tax dollars from the rest of us. Is this what you prefer? I think not.
First, thank you, David . . . that's a lot of information to put together! Ohio IS a front runner for "most corrupt state." I've been getting emails and other info for years about the corruption of the charter school industry and their incestuous connections to our Republican state leaders. The EPCOT scandal was nationally notorious and should have taught them a lesson. But they immediately tweaked the system and were right back at it the next year, harder than ever.
I have seen studies about how many Ohioans are outraged by this. But with so many others taking advantage, I do wonder if the sentiment is strong enough to rid ourselves of this disgrace. The public pushback is usually framed, justifiably, as the charter economy is robbing the public schools. That's true, but there's so much more: lack of accountability and transparency as to where these inflated contributions are going, which private interests might be grifting off them -- the incentivizing lobbyist industry alone would warrant a major investigation. Are our state elected officials entangled as the usual suspects?
The spider web created by Republicans to break our educational system and profit in the process is astoundingly obscure.
As I closed this page out, I opened another article I'd saved to read later:
<https://www.statenews.org/government-politics/2025-09-23/ohioans-are-paying-eighth-highest-property-tax-rate-in-u-s-school-and-state-money-experts-say>
This is very relevant to the discussion, as the first few sentences reveal.
Many questions, hopefully with clear answers. First piece of news for me? That Ohio was the most corrupt state. I thought it was Washington DC.
DC isn't a state, but point taken. The city itself is no match for its temporary residents who come and go with election cycles.
Thank you. I know Washington DC is the capital, not the state. I just considered that small place to be the most rife with corruption.
In a way, it certainly is.