Family experiences are at the heart of school choice. Our blog will periodically spotlight stories from Ohio families who experience school choice programs firsthand.

Kathryn Shaw is a mom in Akron who uses the Autism Scholarship to send her son Nathaniel to the school of her choice.

Kathryn’s story:

Kathryn Shaw is mom to Nathaniel, a child with Aspergers Syndrome. Like many similar parents, she has had the “privilege and the pain of experiencing the many challenges and victories that accompany his diagnosis.”

Nathaniel started out in his local public school, but he “struggled academically as well as socially. Not all of his teachers were tolerant or accepting of him. He was often left out and excluded because he was ‘different.’”

Nathaniel struggled through his 5^th grade year, and Kathryn began to be “at a loss for what to do when faced with the idea of having him attend a large, public, junior high school. Having him at a place where he would not have the support of those around him and with those who were not familiar with his needs terrified me. I wondered, ‘How would he survive?’”

Kathryn called a local private school and asked the principal about accommodations for Aspergers Syndrome. The principal immediately told her about the Autism Scholarship Program and explained that all of his speech and development therapy would be covered by the scholarship. Kathryn was very excited. “Instantly, my hope for his future was reignited!”

Nathaniel began attending this school in the fall of 2004. Although he was the only Aspergers student in the classroom, Nathaniel’s teacher “was so understanding and cooperative in helping to meet his needs…The support and understanding of all faculty and staff was clearly apparent.”

“By the time Nathaniel started high school, he began to blossom academically as well as socially. His grades that once were D’s and C’s began to climb. With a current grade point average of 3.9, it is obvious that Nathaniel is right where he is supposed to be. Nathaniel is the only high school student in the chess club, has been in three school plays,  is in the orchestra where he plays violin, is in the art club, and is on the track team.”

Kathryn believes the Autism Scholarship Program provided Nathaniel this important “educational choice in order to be placed in an outstanding school environment where he can thrive and exceed the expectations of others.” She feels that “if it was not for the Autism scholarship, he would certainly not have had the opportunity to become the outstanding man that he is today.”

Family experiences are at the heart of school choice. Our blog will periodically spotlight stories from Ohio families who experience school choice programs firsthand.

Paul Proctor is a 5^th-grade recipient of the EdChoice Scholarship in Youngstown.

Paul’s story:

Paul Proctor attended a Youngstown charter school for some time, but his mother, Monica Proctor, knew that he was unhappy.  “Paul has always been an extremely well behaved, high honor roll student…I always felt that he was the one being ‘left behind,’ because he was so ahead of the other students in his class.”

Monica has always felt that “the decision on where to send children should be left to the parents, as all children are different as well as their learning needs,” but financial obstacles often block these choices. “Before I learned of the EdChoice program, there was no way, financially, that I could afford to send my very, very bright son to a private school. Even though I knew it would be the best choice for him, there just wasn’t a way.”

After Monica applied for a scholarship, she took Paul to test at the chosen school. “As soon as we walked in the doors, Paul said he just felt he belonged there and nowhere else.” When Monica told her son that he had been accepted for the EdChoice scholarship, Paul was extremely excited.  “He immediately called everyone he knew to tell them that he would be going to the school of ‘his’ choice. I think it was the happiest day of his life.”

Paul is now thriving. He is still on the honor roll, but he doesn’t feel “left behind” now. Monica is overwhelmingly grateful for this opportunity for her son. “It makes my heart feel at peace when I see him coming out of school happy and full of new things to talk about….He tries harder, expects more from himself and his teachers, and feels that he gets back the respect that he gives.”

“Thank you EdChoice for allowing my son a better education, for being my voice and backing up ‘my choice’ for my child.”