COLUMBUS—Senate Bill 11 (SB11), a backpack-style bill that would make every K-12 student in Ohio eligible to receive a scholarship to be used at a private school of the student’s choice, is scheduled to receive its second hearing before the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday, February 21, at 3:00 pm.

Proponents of the bill, which is sponsored by Sen. Sandra O'Brien (R-Ashtabula), will have an opportunity to make the case for giving all Ohio families the freedom to make the best schooling decisions for their children. Troy McIntosh, Executive Director of Center for Christian Virtue's Ohio Christian Education Network, will testify at the hearing.

“This bill is perhaps the greatest educational reform that Ohio has ever attempted,” McIntosh said. “Rather than continuing to fund systems that are too often broken and not serving the needs of the child, this bill will fund students and free them up to find the best schooling option for themselves. Allowing students to take their school funding with them provides the ultimate level of accountability to parents in all of Ohio’s schools.”

The public is invited to attend the hearing and show support for the bill. It will take place in the South Hearing Room in the Senate Annex of the Ohio Statehouse. A livestream of the hearing is available on the Ohio Channel for those who cannot attend.

House Bill 11 (HB11), the original Backpack Bill which is sponsored by Reps. Marilyn John (R-Shelby) and Riordan McClain (R-Upper Sandusky), is expected to begin hearings in the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee within the next few weeks. HB11 will offer additional opportunities for proponents to testify.

The full text of SB11 and HB11 can be read online. 

ACTION ALERT

Contact your lawmakers to share what having educational options will mean for you and ask them to support the Backpack Bill!

For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or contact@ccv.org.

 As Ohio’s largest Christian public policy organization, Center for Christian Virtue seeks the good of our neighbors by advocating for public policy that reflects the truth of the Gospel. 

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