Monthly Archives: February 2011

Kieran, student essay winner, appreciates his scholarship

1 Reply

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

Kieran is a 9th grader at St. Peter Chanel High School, which he attends using the EdChoice Scholarship. He writes of his appreciation of the scholarship for enabling him to receive a good education at a successful high school.

The EdChoice Scholarships have benefited my family greatly. They provided us with extra money to help for my tuition at St. Peter Chanel High School.

Without this scholarship I would not be able to attend this catholic school and would be forced to go to Maple Hts. High School. Just by going to the middle school I know that the Maple Hts. High School would not have been able to challenge me or give me enough work to the point where I completely understand the material. Also, since they are on academic probation it could lower the credibility of the education I am receiving at that institution therefore making colleges and jobs look at me as if I’m only better than the kids at a below average school.

At St. Peter Chanel High School I am being challenged and given a chance to learn a lot more than I would have in my public high school. Unlike Maple Heights, Chanel is a very small high school only consisting of a little less than 400 students in total. This is great because now the teachers have a better chance of actually understanding who their students are and being able to help us with some individual problems they may come across while learning. This also helps the students because we can form better relationships with our peers and even with the upper-classmen that attend our school. Our small population makes us all feel like one big family at St. Peter Chanel High School.

Another reason I enjoy being at St. Peter Chanel High School is because the work that they give me forces me too really to use my brain and think. In Maple Heights I never had to think as much as I have to now and that caused me to become a very lazy student.

Before I came to Chanel I could get an A in my honors classes just by doing the bare minimum of work and rarely having to actually think about anything as I’m doing it. At Chanel we have work almost every day which, even though sometimes can get annoying, really helps me to become less lazy and focus more on my work.

Overall the EdChoice Scholarship has really benefited me and my family and gave me the opportunity to receive a good education at a successful high school. I enjoy learning here and I can tell that I am already gaining knowledge and I still have a lot more to obtain.

School Choice Expansion Legislation Announced

Leave a reply

State Rep. Matt Huffman (R – Lima) held a Statehouse press conference yesterday where he announced his intention to reform and expand the state’s school choice programs.

Rep. Huffman’s proposal would combine the Cleveland and EdChoice Scholarship into a new statewide scholarship. Under Huffman’s plan, current scholarship students would continue to be eligible and current scholarship caps would be eliminated.

“The EdChoice and Cleveland Scholarships have proven incredibly popular with Ohio families,” said School Choice Ohio Executive Director Chad Aldis. “Today families interested in either program face uncertainty because of artificial limits placed upon the programs. This new program would both remove the caps and greatly expand the number of eligible students across the state.”

The new program would move away from determining student eligibility based upon the school grade of the student’s local public school and instead be based upon family income. The scholarship would allow low- and middle-income families to receive a scholarship worth up to 80% of the state per student funding amount (currently $5,783), and students would be able to use the scholarship at participating nonpublic schools that meet state requirements.

“No child should be denied access to any school choice options that best meets their learning needs,” Rep. Huffman said. “Above all, this legislation is designed to extend private school choice to more lower- and middle-income families who have either never had a choice or have been making tremendous sacrifices to make that choice.”

In addition, Rep. Huffman’s proposal includes a scholarship for students with special needs that is modeled on Ohio’s Autism Scholarship Program. Tera Myers, the parent of a student with special learning needs, spoke at the press conference in support of the provision. Mrs. Myers said, “The Special Education Scholarship would allow parents like myself, the ability to choose what school would best fit their child’s individual needs.”

Another innovation announced was the intention to allow the creation of education savings accounts when the scholarship funds in any particular year were not spent. This would encourage parents to find the best value and allow saved funds to be used for future educational expenses. Approved uses would include future private school expenses and postsecondary expenses at Ohio institutions.

Rep. Huffman’s legislation is expected to be officially introduced next week. Watch this blog for more details.

What does the Autism Scholarship mean to this essay-winning mom?

Leave a reply

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

Jennifer Penhale is a mother of four, three of whom have autism. She speaks of the wonders of the Autism Scholarship Program in allowing her the choice of the best school setting for her children to flourish and develop.

 

My name is Jennifer Penhale and I am an Air Force wife and mom to four wonderful children. My oldest Nathan is 7 years old and is a typical developing child. My three younger children, Lori and Carrie (twin 5-year old girls) and Collin who is two are on the autism spectrum. Having four small children is a challenge enough in itself but with the issues and struggles of having three special-needs children living the military lifestyle, it’s difficult to say the least. When we first moved here, we had enrolled our twin girls into the low-communication special-needs preschool class at their public school and although the teachers were wonderful and devoted to their students, the environment was not conducive to the specific and critical needs of my girls. One of my daughters is completely non-verbal and was sort of left behind so-to-speak as her verbal peers were able to handle the demands of the classroom better.

After 6 months of struggle and little to no progress we heard about the center-based ABA therapy at Applied Behavioral Services in Centerville, OH. While our military insurance covers 15 hours per week of the ABA therapy needed for my three younger children, it is not enough to cover the expenses of providing full-time ABA therapy that they need at this critical age.

Upon hearing about the Autism Scholarship Program, we immediately applied, overjoyed at the thought of being able to send our kids to full-time ABA therapy. With the privilege of having them receive the 35 hours of therapy per week, we have been able to see amazing developmental improvements in each of my children and the progress could only have been made possible with this funding. Without this extra funding, my husband and I could not have afforded the high-cost of ABA therapy for each of our three young children and would never have been able to obtain funding each anywhere close from another source to match what this scholarship has provided for us.

Jennifer knows the rarity of this type of opportunity in the U.S. There is only one program similar to this in the United States, the McKay scholarship in Florida, so as a military family we know that we were in a position like most families and would not be able to benefit. This scholarship program in Ohio is a shining example of what every state in the country should model themselves after in providing this badly-needed funding to provide our special-needs children with the education they need and deserve. From the very beginning, I have not taken this scholarship program for granted and I thank everyone involved in this program from the bottom of my heart and I know that every family that receives this funding are the most grateful of all for the kindness and dedication that is involved in making this scholarship program a success.

Thank you for allowing families to have the ability to make the choice in which school setting is best for our children’s special needs and for giving us the opportunity to watch our kids flourish and accomplish their goals in their education. You have given them such a gift in this scholarship and we are truly thankful for the school choice!

EdChoice Unlimited

1 Reply

This week, Ohio State Senator Gary Cates proposed a bill to completely eliminate the limit on the number of EdChoice Scholarships. If this bill gets enough support, any student who is eligible for the EdChoice Scholarship will receive it. No more waiting lists, no denials, just opportunity.

How does a bill get enough support to pass? Your legislators need to hear from their constituents that this is a really important proposal for them to support.

Here’s what you can do to speak out:

  • E-mail/mail/call your Representative and Senator to let them know in 3 paragraphs or so why this bill is SO valuable for families. Anyone in the state can find their personal legislators’ contact information by visiting www.schoolchoiceadvocates.org.
  • Call Senator Cates to let him know that you really appreciate him stepping up for students: (614) 466-8072.

Please spread the word to let others know how they can make calls or send letters of support for this expansion. The more people who show their support, the more likely this bill is to become a reality for thousands of Ohio students.

Want to stay involved as this bill unfolds? www.scohio.org/getinvolved.

Mary, essay winner, is a proud grandparent of EdChoice students

Leave a reply

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

Mary Silvey is a grandmother of a student using the EdChoice Scholarship at Emmanuel Christian Academy. She is one of the winners of the 2010 School Choice Essay Contest.

Mary sees the potential the EdChoice scholarship unlocked in her grandchildren.

“Three years ago I saw an advertisement in our local newspaper that sought donations for a college fund. The picture of a smiling elementary-aged boy caught my eye. It remains posted in my kitchen as a reminder of what my grandchildren are capable of accomplishing. Above the boy’s head in the picture is the launching of a space shape, with a caption above that says, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Below the picture are poignant words about children being born with limitless potential and that we need to give them a chance to succeed. How relevant that ad is in the lives of our grandchildren as they attend a school by choice under the EdChoice Scholarship program.”

“Not only do I volunteer in the private school our grandsons currently attend, I have also continued volunteer work through community programs in the public schools, including the school one grandson previously attended. Weekly I am reminded of the vast difference in the environment between those schools and the private school our grandchildren attend. While I realize that the majority of the students in the private school are there because their parents consider a good education a priority, I see the breakdown of the family and other contributing factors affecting the lack of participation in the lives of urban children in the public schools.”

“For those families that have accepted the opportunity of enrolling their children in another school through the EdChoice Scholarship program, I commend them. It takes some initiative on their part to think ahead and capture this chance of a lifetime, to help develop peak performance in their children in a school with high academic standards.”

“What an amazing difference I saw in our grandsons after the first two months at Emmanuel Christian Academy in Springfield, Ohio. This is their fifth year and they are Honor Roll students, involved in sports, enjoy music, and have a desire to learn and excel. They are in a daily atmosphere of learning that encourages applying oneself to a higher level of effort, as well as being taught respect for leadership-something lacking in today’s culture. The school’s program is well-rounded. The excellent curriculum has advanced them above their grade level in comparison to the previous schools they attended. The school’s selections for field trips and extra activities have broadened their horizons and stimulated an interest to learn more.”

“I see the frustration of some very dedicated teachers in public schools trying their best to get the job done in overcrowded classrooms. With smaller classroom size in a school of choice, more individual needs are met for each student and they fare much better over the years. Precept upon precept builds a foundation that will prepare our grandchildren for their future and challenges they will face in adult life.”

Mary shares her experience with the voucher program with others: “Every year I have the opportunity to share our family’s positive experience in school choice with other families contemplating the opportunity during open enrollment. We are transplants in this city and have lived here 21 years. There is nothing I desire more than to see the cycle of poverty broken in this community. The more children that get a top-notch early education, the better the chance they have of making a difference in this city and country.”

“What a joy it is to see the progression in some other students at Emmanuel-children I knew from my volunteer work in the public schools before their families made the decision to enroll through EdChoice Scholarships. I have watched the change make a major difference in them. They deserved a chance to beat the odds, and now as I watch them and our grandsons grow, I anticipate the day when they will be future leaders in our community. They will be well prepared.”

She will continue to spread the word about this great program! “School choice does make a difference. Daily I am so appreciative of the EdChoice Scholarships, and I will continue to share the good news with other families so they will be aware they have an option for their children to have a better chance in life.”


This week’s school choice news

Leave a reply

Ohio News

Ohio EdChoice enrollment opens today, but there likely won’t be enough vouchers to go around

Channel 9 News, Cincinnati-February 1, 2011

The application period for EdChoice began February 1, but it is unlikely that all interested applicants will be able to receive a scholarship due to the 14,000 enrollment cap. Kasich wants to expand the program to allow more of the 84,000 eligible students to participate.

School vouchers in short supply?

Columbus Dispatch-February 1, 2011

Only 1,500 vouchers expected to be left for new applicants of EdChoice for next school year as 12,500 current recipients are likely to reapply for the 14,000 slots. With approximately 4,000 new applicants annually in past years, it is unlikely that all new applicants will get the opportunity to take part of the statewide voucher program for the 2011-2012 school year.

1,700 using private-school vouchers in Montgomery County

Dayton Daily News-February 2, 2011

Among the twenty-three private schools registered with the EdChoice Scholarship Program in Montgomery County, there are 1,700 students using the vouchers. These students are part of the possible 14,000 scholarship recipient cap, unless new legislation lifts the cap. Ohio Sen. Gary Cates plans to introduce legislation next week to remove the state-mandated 14,000 enrollment cap to allow more students the opportunity to use the voucher program. 

National News

School choice is message of World Education Summit

San Francisco Examiner-January 25, 2011

1,200 education leaders attending the recent World Innovation Summit for Education (WISE) in Doha, Qatar discussed the need to empower parents and children through school choice to meet the needs of students and improve educational services. Steen Jorgensen, a Danish-born official at the World Bank, said to increase accountability of school leaders, public funding of education should be shifted to parents and their children through school choice vouchers.

School choice is the most critical civil rights issue of our time

U.S. News-February 1, 2011

School choice is an extension of Brown v. Board of Education, but today the issue is the unjust separation of students from poor neighborhoods from students in wealthy neighborhoods. The issue of allowing parents the opportunity to put their children in the school they feel their children can learn is not a conservative or liberal issue, but a bipartisan American issue.

A question of responsibility

St. Louis Today-February 1, 2011

The issue of school choice is not about political popularity, it is really a question of responsibility. School choice is not simply about how good or bad the schools are, school choice is about responsibility and parents are in the best position to make the important educational decisions for their children.

The case of Akron mom Kelley Williams-Bolar is making headlines across the nation and has been featured on CNN, Good Morning America, ABC News, and more. Here are just some of the news stories featuring the barriers she faced to school choice:

Rosa Parks on the school bus

Washington Post-January 31, 2011

After being convicted as a felon for lying about her address so her two daughters could attend better schools, the case of Kelley Williams-Bolar has become “Rosa Parks moment for education.”  Kids are suffering every day, simply because the quality of education they receive is based entirely on where they live and where they live depends largely on income and race.

Ohio forced desperate mother’s hand

USA Today-January 31, 2011

After falsifying documents to allow her daughters to attend a better public school, Ohio mom Kelley Williams-Bolar was sentenced to 10 days in jail, two years of probation, is to perform 80 hours of community service. Although she was criticized as defrauding the school system, it is really the flawed school system Ohio has created which defrauded Williams-Bolar’s daughters.

Is the Ohio mother a modern Rosa Parks? Arrest could lead to greater school equity

The Grand Rapids Press-January 31, 2011

Kelley Williams-Bolar is effectively a modern day version of Rosa Parks. The same way that Rosa violated the law in order to get access to the front of the bus, Kelley Williams-Bolar also violated the law in order to get access to the same educational system that is enjoyed by people in the suburbs. Her case is inspiring all of us to demand what is right for our children and to make the changes necessary so that all kids are valued equally.

Gov Kasich orders review of Copley school residency case

Akron Beacon Journal-February 1, 2011

Governor Kasich’s legal team is to review the Kelley Williams-Bolar residency case in detail in order to obtain the facts and intervene on her behalf. Kasich feels that her case raises questions about open enrollment and the ability for parents to put themselves in an environment they think is best for their children.