Right-wing Fordham Institute takes a shot at Upper Arlington for joining the EdChoice voucher litigation.

The school privatization Fordham folks are in a tizzy about Upper Arlington joining the Coalition/VHO litigation challenging the constitutionality of the EdChoice voucher scheme. A June 19 article, “Shame on Upper Arlington Schools” in Fordham’s Ohio Gadfly Daily takes the cake for poppycock rhetoric.

The article refers to the constitutionally-required public common school system as having a longstanding hegemony over K-12 education. The people of Ohio, via the Ohio Constitution, requires the state to secure a thorough and efficient system of common schools. That seems to be of no concern for the privatizers-in-chief.

Fordham suggests that Upper Arlington, as one of the wealthiest school districts, is trying to strip education choices from less advantaged families. A look at the data show that the families in the most affluent districts are receiving a disproportionate share of the new vouchers. A few examples tell the tale:

• Olentangy Local in FY2023 had 30 vouchers; in FY2024; it had 879.
• Hudson City in FY2023 had 8 vouchers; in FY2024; it had 195
• Indian Hill Exempted Village in FY2023 had 3 vouchers; in FY2024; it had 182.
• Rocky River City in FY2023 had 16 vouchers; in FY2024; it had 358.

The list goes on and on! Most of the new vouchers are going to the affluent. The low income families are being lost in the shuffle.

Fordham suggests that perhaps the Upper Arlington Board of Education didn’t fully understand the ramifications of their actions.

Some citizens in Upper Arlington were concerned about this matter for several months. At least a year ago, they began to contact the Board of Education and administration their position on the issue. The Board of Education and administration over time thoroughly vetted the issue and came to a decision. Fordham doesn’t understand.

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