STATEMENT: Dolan on Senate Bill 120 Vote

COLUMBUS—State Senator Matt Dolan (R-Chagrin Falls) today issued the following statement regarding the decision to extend the deadline for the Ohio EdChoice program: "The Senate passed a clear and bipartisan plan that reaffirmed our commitment to our public schools and to our families’ right to choose a school that best meets the needs of their children. What my colleagues and I voted for in House Bill 9 protects Ohio’s EdChoice program while solving the concern that hundreds of traditional public schools might be unfairly categorized as underperforming. It passed with a bipartisan vote in the Senate. With this, we provided clarity and certainty for Ohioans to move forward in making crucial decisions for their families. We also acknowledged that we need to address the underlying problem of how we measure our schools. Unfortunately the House refused to hear our plan, and worse, failed to present a viable or timely alternative, and now we find ourselves voting for another delay that continues the chaos for Ohio’s families and schools. And while I reluctantly voted in support of this extension, I will continue to fight. I urge the House to call conference committee for House Bill 9 next week so we can work for a solution that gives clarity now to our families, our schools, and our constituents."