Buckeye Reporter

Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted has been named the 2024 Champion for Charter Schools Award recipient for his continued support of charter schools and educational freedom in Ohio. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the Thomas B. Fordham Institute said Husted has been instrumental in advancing school choice and securing funding for charter schools serving low-income students.

According to a press release, Husted has been honored with the 2024 Champion for Charter Schools Award by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. This annual award recognizes bipartisan state policymakers who have significantly impacted charter school families and communities.

“Fordham salutes Ohio Lt. Governor Jon Husted, 2024 Champion of Charter Schools Award winner!” the Fordham Institute wrote in an Oct. 17 social media post on X. “Our state is fortunate to have such an unwavering voice for quality educational options.”

Husted expressed his commitment to educational freedom, emphasizing the importance of giving families the ability to choose schools that meet their children’s needs, regardless of their financial situation or location.

“I am honored to receive this award, and I will never stop fighting for families to have the ability to choose where they educate their children,” said Husted.

Chad L. Aldis, Vice President for Ohio Policy at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, highlighted Husted’s long-term support for charter schools, noting his role in securing $3,000 per-pupil funding for low-income students attending high-quality public charter schools in Ohio.

“Lt. Governor Husted has championed charter schools for more than two decades,” said Aldis. “This historic investment will further strengthen Ohio’s charter schools so that they can effectively serve students for generations to come.”

Todd Ziebarth, Senior Vice President for Advocacy and State Support at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, praised Husted’s efforts in expanding public school options, ensuring accountability, and securing vital resources for charter schools. 

“It is imperative for lawmakers at all levels of government to support policies to create and sustain high-quality charter schools if they want to make a difference for students and the future of our country,” Ziebarth said. “Without Lt. Governor Husted’s support, Ohio’s charter school movement would not be where it is today. He has fought for our students and deserves our gratitude and praise.”

According to his official bio page, Jon Husted was adopted and raised in Northwest Ohio's Williams County. He grew up with a strong foundation in faith, family, and hard work. After excelling as an All-American defensive back and earning advanced degrees from the University of Dayton, Husted contributed to economic development as vice president at the Dayton-Area Chamber of Commerce.

Husted's tenure as Secretary of State was marked by significant improvements in business processes, including reducing start-up costs and eliminating office fees, saving taxpayers millions. As House Speaker, he championed Ohio’s most conservative budget in decades with a historic income tax cut. Elected Lt. Governor in 2018, Husted continues to balance his public service with his roles as a husband to his wife Tina and father to their three children.