Catholic Conference of Ohio
Monday, June 30, 2025

Education

About

In collaboration with the diocesan Catholic school offices in Ohio, the Associate Director for Education advocates for public policies to support Catholic elementary and secondary schools and families. 

Examples of education issues include:

  • EdChoice & State Scholarships
  • School Operating Standards
  • School Regulations & Requirements

Education News:

CCO Statement on EdChoice Lawsuit Ruling

Following the ruling of a Franklin County judge on the EdChoice program, Brian Hickey, executive director for the Catholic Conference of Ohio released the following statement:

“We remain confident the EdChoice program will prevail in the appeals process. Ensuring EdChoice scholarships for students is a matter of social justice, as it allows for equal opportunities for all of Ohio’s children. It is also sensible public policy, encouraging a more robust education system for families that ultimately benefits society and the common good.

The Catholic Church will continue to advocate for and defend programs that support parents as the primary educators of their children and enable them to select a school that best suits their child’s needs. We are proud that Catholic schools in Ohio continue to flourish with ethnic and racial diversity while providing a rich spiritual and intellectual environment. Catholic schools, like other chartered nonpublic schools in Ohio, work closely with the Department of Education and Workforce to adhere to state chartering requirements, including operating standards, teacher licensing, state audits and approved testing."

CCO Testified as Interested Party on Operating Budget

House Bill 96

The Catholic Conference of Ohio testified in the Senate Education Committee as an interested party for House Bill 96, the Operating Budget. CCO shared the pro-family benefits of school choice and statistics on Catholic schools, particularly enrollment increases among African American and Hispanic students, and that students on Jon Peterson and Autism Scholarships have doubled since 2014. CCO asked legislators to expand Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid (DPIA) to chartered nonpublic school students to allow students from low-income families to “receive specialized reading and math interventions, mental health support, and other areas of integral development, no matter where their parents choose to send them.”

Act Now – click here for an Action Alert to ask your Ohio senator to extend DIPA to chartered nonpublic school students.

 

Action Alert: Support Economically Disadvantaged Students

Ohio Senators are actively reviewing the State’s Operating Budget, as passed by the House. Now is the time to ask Senators to provide students living in high-poverty areas with the support they need to flourish, regardless of what school they attend.

Catholic schools have historically welcomed students of all backgrounds, with a special focus on those facing economic challenges. Ask your Senator to expand support for these students by extending Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid (DPIA) to chartered nonpublic school students living in high-poverty areas. DPIA provides economically disadvantaged students with reading and math intervention, mental health support, and safety upgrades.

Click Here to Send Your Senator a Note >

CCO Testifies in Support of HB 96 on State Budget and Shared Education-Related Proposals

The Catholic Conference of Ohio testified in support of school choice proposals in House Bill 96, the budget bill. While expressing appreciation for supporting Catholic school families through the EdChoice program, the CCO requested consideration of two proposals. First, to extend Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid (DPIA) to chartered nonpublic school students living in high-poverty areas. The second proposal is to allow the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship amounts in chartered nonpublic schools to match those in public districts. Governor DeWine's Executive Budget retained all the school choice programs currently in effect during the 2024-2025 school year.

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State Scholarship Programs

Learn about the various Scholarship Programs available to Catholic Schools in Ohio.

Learn more

Links

Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Catholic School Office

Diocese of Cleveland
Catholic Schools Office

Diocese of Columbus
Catholic School Office

Diocese of Steubenville
Office of Christian Formation and Schools

Diocese of Toledo
Department of Catholic Education

Diocese of Youngstown
Office of Catholic Schools


The Ohio Catholic School Accrediting Association

Department Contacts

Tom Rhatican
Associate Director, Department on Education

Convenes and staffs the Superintendents of Catholic Schools 

 

Brian Hickey
Executive Director, Catholic Conference of Ohio