School Choice in Ohio: Federal Funding, Local Families, and Real Opportunity
In September, US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Center for Christian Virtue’s Columbus headquarters, highlighting Ohio as a leader in returning education to parents and local communities. During her visit, Secretary McMahon met with parents and students from the Ohio Christian Education Network (OCEN) and discussed the importance of giving families real options for their children’s education.
Recently, Secretary McMahon reaffirmed this commitment on X, highlighting expanded school choice opportunities nationwide.:
School choice empowers parents, expands opportunity, and puts kids on a path to a better education and a better future.
— Secretary Linda McMahon (@EDSecMcMahon) November 25, 2025
The One Big Beautiful Bill included the largest federal expansion of school choice in history - thank you @SecScottBessent for taking this important next step… https://t.co/PEEyCJGm5E
Federal Tax Credits Expand Opportunities
In his X post that Secretary McMahon quoted, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent shared:
President Trump promised to return the power of education to the states and support school choice. Through the historic passage of the One, Big, Beautiful Bill, we’re seeing the fruits of that labor.
Beginning in 2027, taxpayers can claim a $1,700 federal tax credit for contributions to qualifying Scholarship Granting Organizations, marking the first time a federal tax credit directly supports private donations for K-12 education. Treasury is working with states now to ensure readiness for implementation.
Education is the first step to financial freedom, and the Trump Administration is committed to providing pathways to support students nationwide.
This federal tax credit would be in addition to the Ohio state tax credit, which is $750 per individual or $1,500 per married couple, though the exact rules of how the credits will interact are still being determined.
Federal Funding Strengthens School Choice
Federal investments are also backing up school choice. The US Department of Education’s Charter Schools Program received a record $500 million this year, the largest appropriation in its history. Ohio is expected to receive nearly $105 million to expand high-performing charter schools and increase access for families.
Saving Taxes, Supporting Christian School Scholarships
For Christian families in Ohio, programs like the OCEN Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO) provide a practical way to take advantage of these options. Donors can contribute to scholarships for Christian schools and receive a dollar-for-dollar state tax credit — up to $750 per individual or $1,500 per married couple.
This means that it literally costs the donor nothing. Families are simply redirecting a portion of their state tax dollars to Christian school scholarships — giving them real control over how their tax dollars are spent while supporting faith-based education.
This school year, OCEN awarded more than 3,200 student scholarships totaling over $4.7 million, giving families access to schools aligned with their values.
Want to take advantage of the Ohio SGO tax credit? Donate before you file your 2025 taxes, up until April 15, 2025.
On September 24, 2025, Center for Christian Virtue was honored to welcome US Secretary of Education Linda McMahon, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, First Lady Fran DeWine, US Senator Bernie Moreno, and Erika Donalds to our Columbus office for a press conference announcing the new federal investments in school choice.
Secretary McMahon’s visit, combined with her public statements, underscores the connection between federal funding, state-level programs, and the work being done by OCEN and CCV to expand educational choice. Ohio parents now have tools to make decisions that reflect their convictions and meet the unique needs of their children.
At CCV, we will continue to support policies and programs that return authority to families, strengthen Christian education, and ensure that every child has access to a learning environment where faith, character, and academics thrive.
For more information, contact CCV at 513-733-5775 or contact@ccv.org. For media inquiries, email media@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.
###
