Rep. Jamie Callender criticizes school districts for using tax dollars to duns lawsuit against state
A Republican lawmaker has introduced legislation targeting public schools that are suing Ohio’s private school voucher program, saying they shouldn’t use tax dollars to fund the litigation.
State Rep. Jamie Callender, R-Concord, introduced House Bill 671, which would allow the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to withhold state foundation funding from school districts that are part of the Vouchers Hurt Ohio coalition, according to News 5 Cleveland.
“It’s ludicrous that they think they can file a lawsuit using school funding dollars,” Callender told the outlet.
“If we restrict that conduct, that actually puts more monies in the school’s coffers, if they aren’t having to spend money and they aren’t spending money, on things that aren’t directly going to teachers’ salaries, classroom enhancements,” the lawmaker added.
School funding has been a hot-button topic in Ohio for years.
In June 2025, Franklin County Common Pleas Judge Jaiza Page ruled that the state’s private school voucher program is unconstitutional, saying in a summary judgment that by creating and expanding the EdChoice Scholarship program, lawmakers did not support “a thorough and efficient system” of schools throughout the Buckeye State.
Leaders at the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools complained that they were being forced to make budget cuts because of the withheld funding. The district, along with 320 other districts, sued Ohio in 2022 to secure additional funding.
“It breaks my heart to say that there are gonna be many more on the way with that budget cut that we’re looking at,” school board member Dan Heintz said.
However, Callender said that he finds it frustrating that the schools were using their funding against the state, rather than spending it on education.
“They got more this year than they ever have before; they expect more, and unfortunately, there’s not more to expect,” he responded.
Callender, however, backtracked after hearing the outrage over his bill being introduced by school officials and lawyers, among whom was former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Eric Brown, who said that Callender is “trying to bully and intimidate our local school districts, and it won’t work.”
“I’ll ask for it to be amended so that the amount put in escrow is only the amount being spent on the lawsuit, not the entire amount the school district would get,” Callender told the Cleveland television station. “Part of the reason for this legislation was to get the ball rolling with tough discussions about how we can save funding without having to cut staff, without having to cut teachers.”
Callender’s bill has drawn support from Senate Finance Chair Jerry Cirino, R-Kirtland, and Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon.
“The priority of our schools should be that every student is educated to meet the standards of our state, not the pursuit of ideology,” Cirino said in a release. “Representative Callender’s bill ensures that schools cannot use state money intended to meet student needs to sue the very state that supports them. I’m proud to support this legislation and look forward to seeing it in the Senate.”
