School Choice Ohio Blog

Governor John Kasich delivered his second State of the State address today at Wells Academy in Steubenville. While stressing the need to do more to improve the quality of education and student performance in our schools, the governor also took time to highlight the many accomplishments in the expansion of school choice in the past year in Ohio.

2011 saw significant expansion of the state’s school choice programs. Through the hard work of our legislative champions and Governor Kasich, Ohio increased the number of EdChoice scholarships available for students to 30,000 for the current school year and 60,000 for the 2012-2013 school year. In addition to an increase in the number of EdChoice scholarships available, eligibility for the program was expanded to include students who attend the bottom 10 percent of schools in the state, based on performance index scores.

In addition to the expansions made to the EdChoice program, the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program was expanded and Ohio’s fourth school voucher program – the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program – was created.

Cleveland Scholarship & Tutoring Program                                                                                                                        

• Scholarship amounts were increased to mirror EdChoice scholarship amounts
• Eligibility was expanded to include all high school students who live in the Cleveland School District

Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program

• Ohio’s fourth school voucher program will provide scholarships to students in grades K-12 with special needs.

This significant expansion makes Ohio among the leaders in the school choice movement across the country.

While highlighting this achievement, Governor Kasich declared that “No mom and dad should have to have their kid in a school where they are not safe and they are not learning. It is a Civil Right. When schools aren’t working and they are underperforming, let our children go.”

School Choice Ohio salutes the significant expansion of school choice in our state over the past year and we look forward to working with the Governor and legislature to make Ohio the State of School Choice!

By: Ron Adler, president
Ohio Coalition for Quality Education

There’s plenty of chatter around Ohio since the Governor announced that he would break with tradition and deliver his February 7th State of State address at a school in Steubenville, OH.

The speculation and hand-wringing around Ohio seems to be in overdrive.  Some are fretting that it, ‘breaks with the tradition” of presenting the State of State Address in the Statehouse.   Others have said Steubenville is too far from the state capitol and would cost too much.  We’ve even heard that he picked this little town on the West Virginia border for political reasons.

Is it possible that everyone is over-thinking the Governor’s motives?  Perhaps he just cares about education and wants to underscore the importance of Steubenville’s Wells Academy.  This little known school in this little town was named Ohio’s No. 1 public elementary school based on Ohio’s new school ranking system.

Last year, every third and fourth grade student at Wells passed state assessments in math and reading and more than 70 percent performed at “advanced” levels.  This wonderful school, which few had heard of, has earned a 100% mark on their tests every year since 2006.

I bet that Governor Kasich also likes the fact that Wells Academy directs a high percentage of their educational dollars into the classroom where it benefits the children.

Now for anyone who might have difficulty finding Steubenville without their GPS, it’s a small city located along the Ohio River on the Ohio-West Virginia border.  Population under 20,000.  And ever since their steel industry dried up in the 1980′s, there hasn’t been much to brag about.
 

That is, until the Governor’s staff called to inform the Steubenville school superintendent and mayor that the Ohio Governor wanted to recognize their outstanding school.  He wasn’t going to merely mention Wells Academy in his speech or invite them to Columbus.  Governor Kasich is actually coming to Steubenville’s Wells Academy.  Not for a quick photo-op but — to deliver his State of State address at their school!!! 

For the last three decades Steubenville, OH was best known as the birthplace of singer, actor Dean Martin, oddsmaker Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder and Hall of Fame baseball pitcher Rollie Fingers.  Thanks to Governor Kasich, after February 7th Steubenville’s 18,659 residents will have something new to brag about.  Wells Academy will now be a household name in Ohio.

Last week Ohio celebrated Digital Learning Day with a proclamation from Governor Kasich, testimony from Ohio students, and a visit from a high-profile digital learning expert.

Governor Kasich’s proclamation hit on a key reality: “Education has yet to realize the potential of effective use of technology in delivering personalized learning to every child.”

Part of the process of tapping in to this potential is to understand more about this new frontier. Digital Learning Day was an important step forward in this regard. Thanks to the work of state leaders, including the KnowledgeWorks Foundation’s Lisa Duty, we heard wonderful stories, national trends, and data sharing.

• National expert, Tom Vander Ark presented testimony to a packed house in the House Education Committee and fielded questions from committee members. Tom shared a dynamic tool for state leaders and reformers: the very thoughtful “Roadmap for Reform.”
• Parents and teachers shared how their perceptions of online learning were shattered when they took a chance on this new style.
• And students shared their experiences with the digital learning options that are already available in Ohio.

These presentations got us thinking about the possibilities of digital learning. We could look back one day and chuckle at the ways things used to be. I imagine a conversation something like this:

Remember when …

… students all had to move at the same pace in all their classes even if they were way ahead or way behind?

… teachers learned Spanish from teachers who barely knew Spanish themselves and couldn’t take classes from fluent, native speakers?

… “World Studies” classes didn’t involve any video chats with classes in other countries?

… students couldn’t take 2 classes they really wanted if the schedules conflicted?

… students went home for the summer and then had to spend the first 25% of the next year re-learning what they forgot during the summer?

… teachers had to do professional development en masse, even if it wasn’t relevant for them?

… schools had to buy all new history textbook sets after major historical/geographic events?

… students would pass a grade based on their age instead of what they knew? And when passing to the next grade level was all or nothing?

… the state had to wait 3 months to process students’ standardized tests? And teachers didn’t find out their test scores until the next year when the new students had already arrived?

… teachers had to be in the same state as their students and the best teachers could only teach 25 students at a time?

… students couldn’t get personalized attention because the teacher had to teach 25 students at a time?

One of our top policy priorities as an organization is to advance flexibility for students to access a range of high quality digital learning options. KnowledgeWorks lays out some of the barriers we face here in Ohio – we have some work to do.

We are looking forward to working with other innovators to knock down some of these barriers to help schools begin building the next generation of learning.

The enrollment periods for the EdChoice Scholarship Program and the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program officially open today. Both programs are now accepting applications for the 2012-13 school year.

If your child is eligible, now is the time to begin calling and visiting participating private schools to find the right fit for your child!  School Choice Ohio is here to help if you have any questions along the way.

Check out some general program info and steps to follow to apply for a scholarship below.

EdChoice Scholarship Program

• Available to students who attend the state’s lowest performing public schools
• Approximately 100,000 students are eligible
• There are currently 217 EdChoice designated public schools across Ohio, which have received a rating of “academic watch” or “academic emergency” for two of the past three years or are ranked in the bottom 10 percent of schools in the state based on performance-index scores.
• Scholarships are worth $4,250 in grades K-8 and $5,000 per year for high school students

Steps to apply for an EdChoice Scholarship:

Step 1: Parents can determine if their child is eligible for a scholarship by checking the eligible public schools list available here.
Step 2: Once parents confirm their child’s eligibility, they can check the participating private schools list (available here) and begin calling and visiting private schools to find the right fit for their child.
Step 3: Parents enroll their child in the participating private school of their choice.
Step 4: The chosen private school will then apply for the EdChoice Scholarship on behalf of the parents.

Cleveland Scholarship & Tutoring Program

• K-12 students who live in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District are eligible to apply
• This is the first year in the program’s history that current high school students are eligible to apply
• Preference is given to low-income families
• Scholarships are worth $3,825 for K-8 students and $4,500 for students in grades 9-12

Steps to apply for a Cleveland school voucher:

Step 1: Parents who live in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District can check the participating private schools list available online here and begin calling and visiting private schools to find the right fit for their child.
Step 2: Parents enroll their child in the participating private school of their choice.
Step 3: The chosen private school will then apply for the scholarship on behalf of the parents.

The deadline to apply for the EdChoice Scholarship Program is April 13, 2012, and the deadline to apply for the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program is May 31, 2012.

School Choice Ohio spent National School Choice Week hosting several events in areas all over the state – from Columbus to Akron, from Canton to Youngstown – talking about some of the great school options available to Ohio families and the importance of the state’s scholarship programs.

The week was lively! From school fairs to press conferences, from advocacy days to community events, here is a rundown of the highlights:

• We kicked off the week in Akron on Sunday with a School Choice Fair that highlighted more than 50 public, private, charter, virtual, dropout recovery, Waldorf, faith-based, and arts-based schools in the Akron area. Many local families had the opportunity to learn about the diverse array of options available in their community. Check out this article from the Akron Beacon Journal about the event.

• SCO held a press conference on Monday to discuss the legislative wins for Ohio families in 2011 and to announce our legislative goals for 2012. A parent who plans to use Ohio’s new special needs scholarship program shared her story and talked about how the scholarship will change her son’s life. We also took this opportunity to release SCO’s 2011 Annual Report and debut a new video that shows the growth and success of Ohio’s school voucher programs.

• Private school principals attended a roundtable discussion about school choice advocacy with nationally known parent advocate Virginia Walden Ford. Columbus supporters also gathered for an evening event with Virginia to hear about her experience as a school choice advocate in DC and learn from her successes.

• Tuesday was our Day at the Capitol. We co-sponsored a luncheon with Forum for Educational Options that celebrated the variety of Ohio’s educational options. Following the luncheon, School Choice Ohio partnered with our friends at BAEO for an advocacy day. Parents met with Ohio legislators to discuss the need for more school choice opportunities in Ohio. On Tuesday evening, Akron parents gathered for an event at Emmanuel Christian Academy with Virginia Walden Ford to discuss the importance of school choice advocacy.

• Thursday, we hit the road and headed to Northeast Ohio. We invited local media outlets to Heritage Christian School in Canton and Youngstown Christian School in Youngstown to learn more about the impact of school choice in their communities. Local media outlets attended both events where we discussed the state’s scholarship programs and highlighted success stories from local families. Read the article from the Canton Repository here and the article from the Youngstown Vindicator here.

We couldn’t be happier with our events last week, and we are especially grateful to Virginia Walden Ford for traveling all the way up from Arkansas to celebrate with us.  We are also thankful that Gov. John Kasich recognized School Choice Week in Ohio with a resolution.

This is just the beginning of an exciting year. Your support is so important, and we are thankful for your involvement. If you would like to join our efforts in new ways, whether as an ambassador, donor, supporter, or volunteer, we welcome your partnership.

Thank you for celebrating School Choice Week with us, and stay tuned for more exciting news throughout the year.

School Choice Ohio is grateful to have such a strong team of school choice parent and student ambassadors across the state who write letters, give testimony, and share their stories. As School Choice Week comes to an end, take a look back at some great quotes shared by Ohio parents and students.
 
“It was not easy to make the decision about using the EdChoice Scholarship Program because we were very loyal to the public schools. However, now my son receives an excellent education and the discipline, respect, and encouragement that are instilled in him at home are being reinforced at school. My husband and I feel that the EdChoice was the best opportunity that the state has given children.”
– Renetta, mother of an EdChoice scholarship student
 
“In my daughter’s public school, she was doing advanced work but she was still bored to tears. She was slipping through the cracks. I was so happy when the principal at her new school called and told me about the Cleveland Scholarship. I enrolled her right away and now I see such a difference. She is taking Latin classes, playing the cello, and learning science – she loves it!”
– Seanette, mother of a Cleveland scholarship student
 
“I discovered the Autism Scholarship Program when my daughter was 13. She has come a long way from being extremely shy to very sociable. The focus at her new school is on her strengths instead of her deficits.”
– Toni, mother of an Autism scholarship student
 
“EdChoice has given me the opportunity to go to a private school with an excellent curriculum and great teachers. Thank you for helping me to reach my goals and obtain an excellent education.”
– Jordan, EdChoice scholarship student
 
“This new Special Needs Scholarship Program will open up doors for our children, let us make the school choices and reduce the anxieties we feel as parents to find the best school to address the special needs and learning styles of our children.”
– Fati, mother of two children with special needs
 
“I couldn’t afford private school tuition, so I am blessed to have this scholarship. The Cleveland Scholarship Program is a good program because it gives our kids an advantage. The scholarship gives him an advantage in his future – in school, college, and beyond.”
– Debra, mother of a Cleveland scholarship student
 
“EdChoice offers hope to families who aren’t able to afford a private school. Hope that anything is possible. It proves that you can reach for the stars for opportunity. It’s great that all children have the same opportunity no matter what the financial status.”
– Julie, mother of an EdChoice scholarship student
 
“For my children, having the ability to make this choice means a brighter future. I can’t possibly express how much this scholarship will change our lives and my children’s futures.”
– Angela, mother of two children with special needs

Lisa Hall, mother of an Autism Scholarship student, shares how the scholarship helps students with autism develop into “functional members of society.” She also stresses that without the help of the scholarship, she wouldn’t be able to afford to give her child the same types of services that he needs in order to thrive.

2011 was hailed by many, including the Wall Street Journal, as “The Year of School Choice.” That was certainly true in the Buckeye State as we saw the creation of a fourth scholarship program for Ohioans as well as expansions to the state’s current scholarship programs. These positive steps forward for school choice in Ohio echoed the success of the school choice movement nationwide. 

Our friends at the Alliance for School Choice released their 2011-2012 School Choice Yearbook today, and they reported that a record number of children enrolled in private school choice programs in 2011. In total, seven new scholarship programs were enacted and 11 programs were expanded. More than 120 pieces of private school choice legislation (not including companion legislation) were introduced.

Another great resource for national school choice information comes from our friends at The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. Check out the 2012 ABCs of School Choice.

Some important national highlights from 2011 are below:

• Arizona created the nation’s first Education Savings Accounts that will serve children with special needs. 
• The Washington D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program was reauthorized for five years, thanks in part to the great work of our National School Choice Week guest, Virginia Walden Ford.
• Indiana created the Choice Scholarship Program, an income-based scholarship program that is the broadest voucher program in the nation. 
• North Carolina created the Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities.
• Wisconsin expanded the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, the nation’s oldest voucher program.

Because of the great progress made across the nation in 2011, thousands of students will have the chance to find the school that best fits their needs. We are excited to see these opportunities for families expand in 2012.

Cleveland parents and students talk about the positive impact of the Cleveland Voucher Program.

In honor of National School Choice Week, enjoy this video of Representative Bill Patmon (D-Cleveland) speaking about the importance of educational freedom during the 2011 School Choice Celebration and Rally at the Ohio Statehouse.