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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Students are heading back to the classroom, and the Center for Disease Control said one in five high school students reported being bullied in school last year.

A central Ohio woman started the Empower Our Youth Foundation to combat this problem. Tonya Kelly knows the impact of bullying well, both from being a fourth grade teacher and having to watch her daughter go through it.

“It was gut wrenching ... My daughter was a senior in high school. She was vibrant, she had great grades, she was a cheerleader and then all of a sudden you start seeing that anxiousness. You start seeing grades fall. You start seeing that hesitation to go to school,” Kelly said.

She was inspired to start her foundation after she spoke out about her daughter’s situation.

“It was very hard, but I think once I spoke out there was this community of families and people and kids who have been bullied,” she said.

Ohio seeing decline in public school enrollment

After getting her daughter help, Kelly began a mission to help other families who are navigating similar situations. She works with students all over the area teaching them self-empowerment and to stick up for each other.

“Stand up for your friends. Do not let them suffer in silence,” Kelly said.

She said it typically takes around 90 days for bullying to be uncovered. She encouraged parents to have daily check-ins with their children and be on the lookout for signs of bullying: a drop in grades, a change in mood or a hesitation to go to school.

She also helps parents get their children help including getting involved with the school or if it escalates even law enforcement.

“When the community is involved we have less problems. We know difficulties are going to arise but it allows us to share those experiences,” she said.

Kelly said her foundation also talks with children about not being the bully, and she urged parents to do the same.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- President Donald Trump spoke out Friday about a potential deal between the federal government and Intel, the chipmaker behind a massive project under construction in New Albany.

Trump said the government would take a stake in the business, which has been trying to right itself under the leadership of CEO Lip-Bu Tan, as it tries to balance both developing computer chips and manufacturing them. The twin facilities under construction in western Licking County, called fabs, were part of Intel's efforts under its previous boss to increase chip manufacturing in the U.S.

“I said, I think it would be good having the United States as your partner,” Trump said. “He agreed, and they’ve agreed to do it.”

"The City of New Albany congratulates Intel on the landmark agreement with the U.S. government, underscoring its vital role in advancing American technology and national security. This federal investment strengthens Intel’s commitment to expanding domestic chipmaking capacity while creating opportunities for jobs, education, and innovation here in our community. We are proud to support Intel’s success and the transformative impact it brings to New Albany and beyond," said New Albany Mayor Sloan Spalding in a statement.

Although Trump said the stake would be 10%, in a separate announcement, Intel said it would 8.9%, funded through the remaining $5.7 billion in grants awarded but not paid under the CHIPS Act and $3.2 billion awarded to the company as part of the Secure Enclave program.

“President Trump’s focus on U.S. chip manufacturing is driving historic investments in a vital industry that is integral to the country’s economic and national security," Tan said. "We are grateful for the confidence the President and the Administration have placed in Intel."

The Ohio One project was not directly referenced in Intel's news release. It was a cornerstone of the CHIPS Act passed by Congress under Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, who attended the facility's groundbreaking event. Since then, however, plans to open have been delayed repeatedly, with a target date now sometime in the next decade.

NBC4 digital reporter Katie Millard and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Friday night lights are ready to come back on across central Ohio. It's the first week of the high school football regular season, offering a fresh start for everyone taking the field.

Watterson and Olentangy Liberty enter the fall as defending state champions in Division III and Division I, respectively. Other schools have sights set on earning their own trophies in December.

Below is a list of games that will be featured on Football Friday Nite, entering its 34th year, at 11:15 p.m. A complete list of games in the state is at the bottom. Check back all evening for updated scores and highlights.

Week 1 Schedule

• Columbus Academy at Northland
• Berlin at Bishop DeSales
• Gahanna at Pickerington Central
• Chillicothe at Bloom-Carroll
• Big Walnut vs. Bishop Watterson (at Ohio Dominican)
• Scioto at Reynoldsburg
• London at New Albany
• Newark at Licking Heights
• Olentangy at Liberty (Game of the Week)
• Watkins Memorial at Kilbourne
• Westerville Central at Westerville North

On August 22, Spaceweather.com reports a fast-moving Coronal Mass
Ejection, or CME, left the Sun on August 21.  However, it is not
Earth-directed, and is predicted to strike the planet Mars.

Solar activity has decreased back to low levels with a few weak
C-class flares observed from areas located in the northeast quadrant
of the solar disk. There are currently three sunspot regions on the
solar disk ...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium lost a longtime friend Friday: Allen, a magpie goose.

Allen, 23, was a "silly, special goose" who had called the Columbus Zoo home since 2011. His keepers said he was a lively spirit who was honored in life as much as he is in death -- his annual birthday bashes were attended by geese, staff and guests alike.

His last birthday party was in July 2024, Taylor Swift themed event honoring Allen's 22nd birthday. As Allen's arthritis infringed on his quality of life, the Zoo did not hold a birthday bash this year.

"Allen’s vibrant spirit and silly antics will be deeply missed," the Columbus Zoo said. "His legacy lives on in the memories of our team and the guests who loved him."

Allen hatched at the Oklahoma City Zoo in 2002, and quickly moved to ZooTampa. When he arrived at the Columbus Zoo in 2011, he originally lived in the Asia Quest region. In 2014, Allen moved to the Australia and the Island region.

Why Ohio is considering legalizing the sale of raw milk

Allen was a goose with personality. His care team said he had strong opinions about people, especially his keepers. He was known for honking at guests, especially when they spoke to him, and his selective relationship with keepers. Allen chose some keepers as his favorites and chased after keepers who were not in his favor.

Allen loved being misted with a hose and making nests from leaves given to him by his favorite keepers. His care team said he also enjoyed standing on heads and in laps.

Since 2021, his animal care team helped him manage arthritis in both legs. With time, his daily pain medication no longer kept the discomfort at bay. The Zoo said he often struggled to stand up, and keepers made the difficult decision to humanely euthanize Allen out of respect for his quality of life.

As a vibrant magpie goose, Allen was among the most intelligent birds in the aviary. The Zoo said Allen will be greatly missed.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Two Ohio lawmakers are attempting to make it easier for residents to obtain raw milk.

House Bill 406, introduced on Aug. 5 by Reps. Kellie Deeter (R-Norwalk) and Levi Dean (R-Xenia), would allow farmers to sell raw milk directly to customers. The legislation does not allow for retail sales or deliveries.

“I'm not even necessarily a raw milk advocate, but I am a liberty advocate,” Deeter said. 

Raw milk is milk that has not undergone pasteurization, a process of heating food products to kill pathogens. Selling raw milk is illegal in Ohio unless a consumer has a herd share agreement, where they buy a “share” of a cow or herd and pay fees for their boarding and management. Farmers can also sell raw milk labeled for pet use. 

Deeter argued that residents are already consuming raw milk through “unregulated” herd share agreements and products intended for pets. Legalizing raw milk would help the state ensure the product is safer, she said.

“We know that there's a large market for this milk and it is being consumed by humans, not necessarily pets,” Deeter said. “So, the goal with this bill is to legalize and regulate a narrow path for what is currently being done, but in a way that is healthier for the public.”

The bill would require raw milk sellers to obtain a license through the state’s Director of Agriculture, which is already required of dairy farmers in the state and includes an inspection of their facilities.

Under the legislation, raw milk sellers would also need to have customers sign a waiver acknowledging the dangers of consuming the product. Health experts say these dangers include contracting foodborne illnesses from bacteria such as salmonella, listeria and E. coli. 

“Ingesting raw milk and those types of bacteria, it may not impact someone who is healthy,” said Rep. Anita Somani (D-Dublin), an OB-GYN. “At minimum, they may end up with diarrhea or nausea or vomiting. For somebody who's immunocompromised, somebody who's pregnant, it can be devastating.”

Consuming raw milk can cause life-threatening illnesses, such as tuberculosis, especially for people with weakened immune systems. In pregnant women, it can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. Between 1998 and 2018, raw milk was linked to more than 2,500 hospitalizations and three deaths across the United States, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 

The legislation would require sellers to test for harmful bacteria that can be found in raw milk once a month, and bar the sale of batches that test positive. However, Somani is skeptical the testing would have any real impact, as the milk could quickly grow bacteria after it’s been tested.

“If it's on the shelf for more than a few days, it may end up growing bacteria,” she said. “You can only test and say that this raw milk is safe for maybe 24 to 48 hours.”

Somani said the bill would take Ohio “backwards” when it comes to public health, as raw milk is generally unsafe for consumption and legalizing it may lead to more people believing it is safe and drinking it. 

“Any food item that’s sold from any farm, including vegetables, etc., there’s no guarantee that we can prevent listeria or E. coli,” Deeter said. “We currently have outbreaks for those things, but I think we can improve the current process.” 

Some raw milk advocates argue the product can cure lactose intolerance, treat allergies and support gut health. However, Harvard University and the FDA have stated research has disproven these claims. Consumers of the product also say they like that it is unprocessed and more “natural” than pasteurized milk.

The legislation comes at a time when raw milk is increasing in popularity. Weekly raw milk sales in 2024 increased by 21% compared to the previous year, according to the University of Delaware. The college said the growing interest in raw milk is largely being fueled by “eat local” and unprocessed food movements. 

“I'm an advocate of pasteurized milk,” Deeter said. “It's one of the biggest scientific discoveries in history, and I will continue to drink pasteurized milk, personally.”

HB 406 awaits a committee assignment and its first hearing.

A respected member of the DXing community has passed away. Lou Dietrich, N2TU, became a Silent Key on August 15 at the age of 78. 

Dietrich was the former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the International DX Association (INDEXA). He was known as a dedicated advocate for international goodwill through radio, and a passionate advocate for the mission of INDEXA. He played a pivotal role in gu...

Designs for Discreet Amateur Radio Operating!

Stealth Antennas for Ham Radio is full of antennas to get you on the air no matter where you live. Even radio amateurs who live with antenna restrictions or covenant limitations will find solutions in this book. Learn how to install a multiband vertical that looks like a flagpole, or how to run an end-fed random wire along your roof, so the neighbors...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A new 379-unit student housing complex is welcoming Ohio State students.

Rambler Columbus, a 407,465-square-foot project at 222 W. Lane Ave., opened for student living on July 31. The complex can house up to 889 students across a variety of living options, ranging from six-bedroom, six-bathroom apartments to two-level townhomes.

Texas-based developers LV Collective and Virtus Real Estate Capital collaborated on the project and highlighted features that are not always included in student housing. Rambler has study spots, fitness options and even a pet spa.

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All units are fully furnished with full-XL beds, study areas, smart TVs and amenities. Rooms range from $829 to $1,979 per month, per person.

• Courtesy photo: Rambler Columbus Architecture Photos, Chase Daniels
• Courtesy photo: Rambler Columbus Architecture Photos, Chase Daniels
• Courtesy photo: Rambler Columbus Architecture Photos, Chase Daniels
• Courtesy photo: Rambler Columbus Architecture Photos, Chase Daniels
• Courtesy photo: Rambler Columbus Architecture Photos, Chase Daniels
• Courtesy photo: Rambler Columbus Architecture Photos, Chase Daniels

Rambler's fitness center is connected to a terrace and the development offers a rooftop yoga studio, sauna and cold plunge pool alongside traditional equipment. Geared toward students, it also includes a study mezzanine with private study rooms, conference rooms and a podcast studio.

Outside, Rambler residents have access to two heated pools turned hot tubs and four courtyards. The pool deck includes fire pits, grilling area, lounge chairs and a jumbotron where residents can watch Ohio State football games.

On the first floor, Rambler has the Daydreamer coffee shop and sports bar, called Victory Lap. Although Victory Lap brings a strong Ohio State theme, it also offers streaming parties for "The Summer I Turned Pretty" episodes, back-to-school markets, fantasy football deals and other events geared toward students.

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Residents who moved in July 31, Aug. 1 or Aug. 15 were assisted by professional movers and offered free coffee, although standard move-in did not include those add-ons.

"We are thrilled to join the Columbus community and bring our curated, experience-based student housing to The Ohio State University students,” LV Collective Student Housing President, Jonathan Reyes, said. “From a prime location to thoughtfully designed spaces and unmatched amenities, Rambler Columbus is redefining student living in the market.” 

This is LV Collective's first project in Ohio, and the first completed project in the Midwest.

ARRL honors the work of amateur radio operators who grow the hobby by advancing technology used within, and the operating culture, of the Amateur Radio Service. At the Second Meeting of the ARRL Board of Directors, hams and journalists who have covered amateur radio were honored with awards.

The ARRL Technical Innovation Award is granted annually to individuals who are licensed radio amateurs wi...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus high-rise that once buzzed with Nationwide office workers could soon become the city's newest housing development.

Nationwide Realty Investors, the real estate development affiliate of Nationwide Insurance, may soon transform part of the company's former Downtown headquarters into housing. A preliminary site plan has been submitted to the city for 280 N. High St., an 18-story office building constructed in 192 and once known as Two Nationwide Plaza.

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The site plan, which outlines minor landscaping updates along High and Chestnut streets but doesn't detail how many apartments could be yielded from the building's conversion, is set to go before the Downtown Commission on Tuesday.

Earlier this year, Nationwide began reviewing its real estate holdings to identify which might be viable for housing, amid Columbus' housing shortage. In a move aligning with that goal, the property deed for 280 N. High St. was transferred to Realty Investors in March. The building also once housed Morton's Steakhouse, which closed in 2009 after nearly three decades.

Nationwide consolidated its Columbus workforce in 2023 after the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the company operates out of three main buildings, including the 40-story One Nationwide Plaza and the 26-story Three Nationwide Plaza, which both sit across the street from the former Two Nationwide Plaza. The company also owns an office at 1000 Yard St. in Grandview Yard.

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If Realty Investors advances the project, the building would follow in the footsteps of other former Downtown office buildings that have been converted into apartments, like the Preston Centre, the former PNC Tower that was redeveloped for mixed-use. The Preston Centre is one of several part of the Capital Square Renaissance project replacing underutilized buildings.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A woman has been indicted in connection to a 2024 fatal hit-and-run. 

Dondra Hill was arraigned in court on Monday after being indicted by a grand jury for the July 18, 2024 fatal crash that happened at the intersection of Cleveland and Chittenden Avenues.

In June of this year, Claire Del Vita came to NBC4 seeking answers in her father's death. Her dad, Giancarlo Del Vita, was killed in that crash while riding his motorcycle.

NBC4 obtained surveillance video of the crash. In the video, a red vehicle driven by Hill can be seen continuing to turn after colliding with Giancarlo. She was traveling south before making a left-hand turn at the intersection. Giancarlo was proceeding north. 

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About a minute after the crash, Hill appears in the frame of the video walking toward the scene. She sees bystanders helping Giancarlo, and then can be seen leaving less than a minute later. 

Columbus police laid out Hill's actions in the crash report saying she failed to yield, briefly got out of the car, then got back in and left. Police also reported that Hill did not have a valid driver's license or insurance at the time of the crash. 

Now, more than a year later, Hill faces a charge of failure to stop after an accident, a third-degree felony. If convicted, she could face a fine of up to $10,000 and a prison sentence of up to 5 years.   

Hill entered a not guilty plea. She was released on a $5,000 recognized bond and was ordered to go no contact with the victim's family and lost her driving privileges.

Claire Del Vita told NBC4 she is relieved that Hill has been indicted, but knows the process is far from over. 

• Claire and Giancarlo Del Vita (Courtesy photo, Claire Del Vita)
• Giancarlo Del Vita (Courtesy photo, Claire Del Vita)
• Giancarlo Del Vita with his motorcycle (Courtesy photo, Claire Del Vita)

"It's really hard to start healing when you're still dealing with all of this stuff," Claire said. "So, I'm hopeful that this will get resolved. And even if it's not the outcome that I hope it is, just knowing that people are aware. That people are aware of motorcycles and that they're on the road. And that I'm doing something that hopefully makes people more aware of. That is all I could ask for at the end of the day." 

As the case moves forward, Claire said she plans to attend as many court dates as she can and continue to be an advocate for her dad and other motorcyclist on the roads.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recent report has revealed the most difficult town name to pronounce in Ohio and each state across the country. 

Preply, an online language learning platform, released a report earlier this summer that included a list of what it considers to be the hardest-to-pronounce town names in each state. 

In Ohio, the town name that is the most difficult to say is Gnadenhutten, which is pronounced “ji-NAY-dun-huh-tehn,” according to the analysis. Gnadenhutten is located in Tuscarawas County, with a population of 1,158 as of 2023.

Town names from states surrounding Ohio that made the list include Loogootee in Indiana, Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan, Iaeger in West Virginia, Shickshinny in Pennsylvania and Tyewhoppety in Kentucky.  

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While not included in the report, Ohio boasts a variety of other unique names for towns, cities and unincorporated communities, including Knockemstiff in Ross County, Celeryville in Huron County, Reminderville in Summit County and Pee Pee Township in Pike County. 

Preply also found out what state names residents struggle with pronouncing the most. The website pulled Google Trends data from the past year for terms such as “[state name] pronunciation” in each U.S. state.

Americans overall found Arkansas the hardest to pronounce. However, Ohioans struggled the most with saying Massachusetts.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Republican Sen. Jon Husted holds a six-point advantage over former Sen. Sherrod Brown, marking a competitive start to Ohio's closely watched 2026 race.

An Emerson College Polling survey of Ohio voters released Friday morning found Husted leads with 50% over Brown's 44%, with 7% still undecided. The poll, with a margin of error of +/- three percentage points, surveyed 1,000 active Ohio registered voters on Aug. 18 and 19.

Brown, a Democrat who launched his campaign Monday and raised $3.6 million, is viewed favorably by 44%, while 42% hold an unfavorable opinion. Husted, who began his bid in April and is sitting on $2.6 million, is viewed favorably by 33% and unfavorably by 28%. Watch a previous NBC4 report on Ohio's 2026 U.S. Senate race in the video player above.

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"Husted has a 16-point lead among male voters and voters without a college degree, and a 14-point lead among voters over 40," said Spencer Kimball, executive director of Emerson College Polling. "Brown has a 13-point lead among voters under 40, a three-point lead among women voters, and an eight-point lead among independent voters."

The poll also gauged early sentiment in Ohio's 2026 gubernatorial race. In a hypothetical general election, Republican Vivek Ramaswamy holds a 10-point lead over Democrat Amy Acton, 49% to 39%, with 12% undecided. Against Democrat Tim Ryan, Ramaswamy leads 49% to 41%, with 10% undecided.

"Driving Ramaswamy's support is his strength with younger voters, for comparison, he outperforms Husted among those under 30 by five points, 39% to 34%," said Kimball.

In a preview of the 2028 Republican presidential nomination, Vice President JD Vance heavily leads the field with 55%, followed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio at 9%, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis at 7%, Ramaswamy at 6% and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 4%.

For the Democratic nomination, California Gov. Gavin Newsom leads with 20%, followed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg at 15%, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez at 8%, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, former Vice President Kamala Harris and Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders each at 7%.

On presidential approval, 49% of Ohio voters support President Donald Trump's performance, while 42% disapprove. Regarding Gov. Mike DeWine, 40% disapprove of his job performance, 32% approve and 28% remain neutral.

Ohio seeing decline in public school enrollment

The survey also explored views on immigration enforcement. About 57% of Ohio voters think mass deportations of undocumented or illegal immigrants would be good for the state, while 43% view them as bad. Among party lines, 77% of Democrats oppose deportations, while 87% of Republicans support them. Independents are nearly split, with 52% in favor and 48% opposed.

On the issue of Ohio sending National Guard troops to Washington, D.C., 44% approve, 42% disapprove, and 14% are unsure. When asked about the most important issues facing the state, 44% of Ohio voters named the economy, followed by threats to democracy at 15%, housing affordability at 10%, and healthcare at 8%.

Regarding Ohio's congressional redistricting, 41% of voters believe district lines are drawn to benefit Republicans, while 23% believe the process is fair. Eight percent think the maps favor Democrats, and 29% are unsure.

"Among voters whose top issue is threats to democracy, 82% think congressional district lines are being drawn to benefit the Republican Party," Kimball noted.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The man accused of shooting two Mifflin Township police officers is in jail after months in the hospital.

Franklin County court records show Daveonte Dixon is in jail on 11 felony charges, including attempted murder. Dixon, 21, led police on a two-day manhunt in May after fleeing a traffic stop and allegedly shooting two Mifflin Township police officers. Once caught, Dixon was hospitalized for months with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was booked in a Franklin County jail on Thursday.

Also on Thursday, Dixon pleaded not guilty to all 11 charges: two counts of attempted murder, one count of tampering with evidence, six counts of felonious assault and two counts of weapon under disability. Dixon had been on probation and barred from using firearms when the incident occurred three months ago.

Dixon was a passenger in the car when Mifflin Township officers stopped a vehicle on May 28. Although the driver cooperated with police, Dixon fled from the vehicle. Body camera footage shows when officers chased after him, Dixon turned and fired, hitting both officers involved in the traffic stop -- two of Mifflin Township's five police officers.

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Dixon then fled, starting a two-day man hunt. He was eventually tracked to an apartment in Obetz, where officers heard gunfire from inside the unit while trying to execute a search warrant. Dixon was hospitalized in critical condition with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and has been recovering since.

Both Mifflin Officers were hospitalized after the shooting, neither of whom have been named. Officers said one was released on June 23, nearly a month after he was hospitalized in critical condition with injuries to his face and upper body. The other officer was released the day after the shooting with serious injuries to his right arm.

Five women and three men, ages 21-25, have been indicted on allegations they helped Dixon evade capture. All eight are charged with obstructing justice and accused of hindering search efforts with the knowledge he had a felony arrest warrant.

Jail records list 13 charges, including two counts of murder, but court records consistently report the 11 charges, and list attempted murder rather than murder. Dixon has not yet been issued a bond's bond was not yet set as of Friday morning.

If Dixon is convicted on all charges, he would spend at least 40 years in jail.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- There are fewer public school students heading back to school this year as enrollment continues to decline in Ohio.

According to data from the National Center for Education Statistics, public school enrollment declined 8.7% from 2000 to 2023. Matthew Joseph, senior adviser for education policy at ExcelinEd, warned Ohio could see a further 10% decline over the next 10 years. He encouraged state legislators to start planning.

"Without state action, the decline in student enrollment in public schools in Ohio will mean a decline in funding going to those schools, because funding is largely by student per student," Joseph said. "Without state planning, that drop in funding could raise the risk of lots of schools closing.”

Joseph said he believes declining enrollment stems from lower birth rates. Since 2006, the earliest available state data, Ohio's birth rate has dropped 15.7%. He said Ohio should be looking at policy changes to help protect schools from closing as enrollment declines.

To protect public schools, Joseph said the state could fund “ghost students,” a policy change that funds schools based on previous enrollment numbers. He said funding "ghosts" is costly for the state, but offers protection for schools as enrollment fluctuates.

He also suggested sharing resources like facilities or cashflow among schools with declining enrollment, including nonpublic schools. Joseph said legislators could step in to ensure districts are distributing assets among other districts.

“Some traditional public school districts are reluctant to share the space," Joseph said. "They either want to hope for the future that they might get another 500 students, or they don't want to give the resources to a (school) that they perceive to be a competitor."

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Some public school advocates feel like the state is already ensuring public schools share with nonpublic ones in state education funding. Public school advocates -- and a Franklin County judge -- say Ohio's scholarship program unfairly fund a second system of schools with fewer regulations using state dollars, leaving less money for public schools.

Ohio's scholarship program guarantees any student, regardless of income, at least a partial state-funded scholarship to attend private or charter school. William Phillis, executive director for the Coalition for Adequacy and Equity of School Funding, won a lawsuit challenging Ohio's voucher programs, which the state is appealing. See previous coverage in the video player above.

"All these giveaways to the private sector have nothing to do with improved educational opportunities, have nothing to do with improving the public good, improving how well students get along together," Phillis said. "It all has to do with public money being paid to private schools, rather than public money being paid for the education of kids in public schools.”

Joseph is a proponent of school choice and voucher programs but said it's more likely expanded vouchers will affect public school enrollment in the future. He said most of Ohio's voucher participants were already in private schools, so they have only marginally contributed to decreasing enrollment rates.

Voucher enrollment nearly doubled after Ohio removed income requirements for participation in 2022, but nonpublic enrollment did not follow suit. Phillis and other anti-voucher advocates often point to this trend as proof universal vouchers are largely benefiting families who can already afford private schools. Voucher program supporters say state money should benefit all students, including those at schools that do not qualify for other public funding.

"What Ohio as a state should be doing is not trying to stop parents from choosing, but to make it so that the resources can ebb and flow without harming the people who are left,” Joseph said.

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Although Ohio's public schools overall are enrolling fewer students, several central Ohio school districts are expanding. The Department of Development predicts Ohio as a whole will lose 675,000 residents by 2050, but central Ohio will increase its population by 726,000 people by the same year. Joseph's recommendation that Ohio schools share facilities is less applicable in central Ohio, where districts are reporting overcrowding.

Joseph examines education policies across the nation, and encouraged Ohio legislators to adapt soon.

“I think that resisting the change, whether it's because of declining enrollment or because of choice, is kind of like resisting gravity," Joseph said.