The Cleveland City Schools (CCS) Board of Education has officially announced its opposition to school voucher programs, including those outlined in the Education Freedom Scholarship Act of 2025. In a newly released resolution, the Board highlights concerns about the potential harm voucher programs could cause to public education, including reductions in funding, lack of accountability for private institutions receiving taxpayer dollars, and inequities in access for students.
The resolution points to the growing challenges faced by public schools, such as increased mental health needs, rising special education demands, and greater cultural and language diversity. The Board warns that diverting public funds to private institutions through voucher programs would exacerbate these challenges, destabilize public school systems, and lead to increased taxpayer costs.
Research from Tennessee and other states shows that existing voucher programs have produced mixed results, often failing to deliver improved academic outcomes while creating budget overruns and oversight issues. The CCS Board has called for increased investment in public schools rather than expanding voucher programs.
The resolution also emphasizes the importance of accountability, urging that any schools receiving public funds be held to the same standards as public schools in areas such as academic performance, financial transparency, and regulatory compliance. The Board further recommends a comprehensive review of current voucher programs to evaluate their financial and academic impacts before considering any expansion.
For the full resolution, visit https://5il.co/35gq9.