Kasich budget proposal would expand Ohio's school voucher program

During his campaign, Gov. John Kasich pledged to be an advocate for school choice. He was emphatic about it during an appearance at the City Club of Cleveland.

"I've been in cities where I've seen people stand in line to give their kids a chance to be safer and better educated. And the idea that we're going to deny them a chance to have choice; to put their kids where their kids can get the best education, in my opinion violates their civil rights. To me it's the biggest civil rights issue out there,” he told the audience in July 2009. "The right of mothers and fathers to have the resources to put their kids in a school setting where their kids can learn and prosper.”

The governor unveiled his budget plans for the next two fiscal years on March 15. In it Kasich takes steps toward expanding options for parents.

The budget proposal doubles the school vouchers program and lifts the cap on the number of charter schools that can set up shop in a given academically troubled district.

Funding for Community Schools and Choice Programs in the state budget would increase 120 percent for fiscal 2012 (which begins July 1, 2011), from $1 million in the current budget to $2.2 million. Another $2.2 million would be budgeted for it in FY 2013.

Kasich has gotten ball rolling on this promise. His proposals now move to the General Assembly, where legislators will decide whether to put his plan into action.

But based on his budget proposal, we move the Kasich-O- Meter for this promise to In the Works.