Advocates for Christian education across the U.S. have been seeking legal ways to access taxpayer money typically reserved for public schools. One such approach in Ohio is benefiting schools linked to a growing conservative political movement, raising concerns from those who support the separation of church and state.
Under President-elect Donald Trump, supporters of school choice have found a strong ally. Trump has championed school choice as a way to counter what he describes as leftist ideologies in public schools, and is expected to push for its expansion at the federal level.
In Ohio, the government has tapped into its budget surplus to offer grants aimed at expanding and renovating religious schools, with most of the funding going to projects tied to the Center for Christian Virtue CCV, an advocacy group whose influence has grown as Ohio pushes for more religious educational options.
Ohio’s universal voucher program, introduced last year, allows any family in the state to use taxpayer-funded tuition for private, including religious, schools.
Supporters of the construction grants argue that these funds help meet the increased demand for religious schools, especially in rural areas.
However, the nonprofit Americans United for Separation of Church and State opposes these grants, calling them unconstitutional. The group argues that direct government funding of religious schools violates the principle of religious freedom, as taxpayers are forced to fund religious education they may not support.
The grants, which are part of the Republican-led Ohio Senate’s One-Time Strategic Community Investment Fund, allocated $4.9 million from a $717 million surplus to religious school projects. Six of the eight recipients are affiliated with Ohio Christian Education Network OCEN, which has expanded significantly in recent years. Other recipients include Catholic schools.
Additionally, Ohio has introduced scholarship-granting organizations SGOs, which allow nonprofits to collect funds for private school scholarships, with donations effectively becoming tax-deductible. Public records show that CCV has been instrumental in organizing these efforts.
CCV, once a fringe group known for its role in Ohio’s 2004 gay marriage ban, has gained significant influence, seeing its revenue grow significantly in recent years. Along with advocating for school choice, the group has lobbied for policies targeting transgender students and gender-affirming care.
Despite claiming that taxpayer funds do not directly support its operations, the financial impact of these programs on Ohio’s budget is significant, with estimates suggesting up to $70 million in lost revenue each year.
Opponents, like Scott DiMauro, president of the Ohio Education Association, argue that these moves are diverting money from public education to private schools. Meanwhile, CCV President Aaron Baer has argued that public schools undermine conservative values and that Christian education is essential for children to truly understand the world around them.
CCV has also expanded its operations, incorporating two for-profit entities this summer, further solidifying its role in Ohio’s educational landscape.