In this week-long Homeschool blog series, we highlight the history, philosophies, myths, and policies related to homeschooling, one of the important options for education in Ohio. An estimated 25,000 students are educated at home in Ohio, part of the more than 1.5 million homeschool students throughout the country.
This fun video shows some of the accomplishments within the homeschool movement.
In this week-long Homeschool blog series, we highlight the history, philosophies, myths, and policies related to homeschooling, one of the important options for education in Ohio. An estimated 25,000 students are educated at home in Ohio, part of the more than 1.5 million homeschool students throughout the country.
Homeschooling is an option that many families now take for granted as part of the school choice landscape. But it hasn’t always been so clear.
Mark and Diane Stevenson of the Christian Home Educators Stark County Association began educating their children at home 25 years ago when homeschool families faced obstacles beyond just developing their yearly educational plans. Here we interview Mark to find out more about the long road it took to make it clear that families have the right to educate their children themselves.
Mark, thank you for joining us.
Thanks for having me.
How did you and your wife first learn about the option of homeschooling?
Around 1985, we heard Raymond and Dorothy Moore on Focus on the Family’s radio program with James Dobson. They had written a series of books aimed at the concept of homeschooling. We took interest at that point and started to explore the possibilities. At that time, we had two children and not a single friend or family member that homeschooled.
At that time, 25 years ago, what supports were in place for families and what, if any, support from the state?
We felt alone at first until we found a support group. Then we found our place in everything. We were able to connect with families that decided to do the same thing!
Believe it or not, families’ legal right to homeschool their children were being challenged by their local school districts. In 1987, the Schmidt Family in Columbiana County had to go to court to defend their right to educate their children themselves. At that time, they sort of “won” their case, which meant that they were allowed to continue homeschooling but they had to pay hundreds of dollars in fines for each child. Homeschool families across the state collected funds to help the Schmidts pay their fines. In 1988, a family in Toledo actually faced jail time for their decision to homeschool until local media began to spotlight their case and the judge relented.
Wow, that is unbelievable that a family would have to pay the state for the right to educate their own children at the same time they were saving the state money! What happened next?
In 1988, in part because of these attacks on homeschool families, the State Board of Education realized they needed to begin creating a framework for the growing homeschool movement. They commissioned a 19-member “Citizen’s Advisory Committee to Study Home Based Education” to develop a means of “fair and equitable” treatment of all Ohio home educators. For the homeschool community, it was important that the committee recognize that while the state needed to ensure that children are provided the necessary educational opportunities, they didn’t necessarily need to be educated in any particular manner or place. Discussion among committee members was intense and contentious.
The result was a new process adopted by the Ohio Department of Education that required families to notify their local district superintendents of their intention to homeschool. The process that was agreed upon is still in place today and allows homeschool families the flexibility they need to educate their children in the manner they think is best.
Now that homeschooling is firmly established as an option for parents, have you found it growing in popularity?
Actually, it has grown exponentially. It is popular, in many ways. It almost has a counter-cultural feeling. Like, here’s our family doing the “great adventure.” Well, okay, not every day is like that in homeschooling. Most days can be rewarding when you see that “aha” moment in your own child. And then, there are days when it’s like trudging through sludge to convey a concept. But in the end analysis, homeschooling parents realize this sacrifice of time and effort will only be there in this fashion for a set number of years, and then the child will fly the nest and start their own family.
However, leaders in our movement still need to be vigilant. The pioneers of the movement made many sacrifices, which need to be reiterated to and remembered by today’s families. It takes diligence to maintain our freedom to home educate without state interference, and that’s why homeschoolers continue to be engaged in politics and elections.
Mark, thank you so much for sharing these insights! As families continue to fight for their ability to choose the best environment for their children, the example of the homeschool community is heartening.
In this week-long Homeschool blog series, we highlight the history, philosophies, myths, and policies related to homeschooling, one of the important options for education in Ohio. An estimated 25,000 students are educated at home in Ohio, part of the more than 1.5 million homeschool students throughout the country.
Homeschooling is the only type of educational option in Ohio that receives no per pupil funding. Homeschool families are still required to share their education plans with their local school district and share results of annual assessments.
The national Homeschool Legal Defense Association is a group that keep supporters abreast of legal, media, and policy issues that affect homeschooling.
HLDA works in partnership with the Ohio-based Christian Home Educators of Ohio (CHEO) to address legislative issues (like this one) that affect homeschool families across the state. CHEO also publishes a bi-monthly magazine called the “Ohio Homeschool Companion” about homeschooling in Ohio.
Advocates like these are helping homeschoolers stay connected and informed.
On Nov. 25, School Choice Ohio will bid a fond farewell to its leader, Chad Aldis, who is stepping down to take on a new role with StudentsFirst, a national education reform organization.
With Chad at the wheel, School Choice Ohio has grown tremendously as an advocate for school choice of all types and a resource for the media, legislators, and business leaders on education reform. The organization also serves as an information source for thousands of Ohio families who are seeking the best educational environment for their children.
Since Chad became executive director in 2007, our state has made leaps and bounds toward expanding school choice. Ohio legislators created a new scholarship program for students with special needs, expanded the number of EdChoice scholarships available from 14,000 to 60,000, and increased the funding for the Cleveland Scholarship placing it on an equal footing with funding for the EdChoice Scholarship. The state also adopted approved accountability and transparency provisions for the scholarship programs.
We will miss Chad’s leadership and expertise, but we are happy that he will be continuing to fight for education reform in his new position with StudentsFirst. As an organization, we are excited to continue to build on the solid foundation that Chad built during his tenure. We will keep fighting to ensure that every child in Ohio has access to a high quality education that best meets his or her needs, regardless of their zip code or their family’s income level.
Thank you for your leadership, and best of luck in your new position, Chad!
Proposed bill would expand voucher program to all school districts
Dayton Daily News
November 14, 2011
This article discusses House Bill 136 and shares views from both opponents and proponents of the bill. Opponents argue that the bill could take millions of dollars from the school districts when they are already experiencing funding cuts. Senator Lehner tells the Dayton Daily News that the bill brings up an important question: What is the role of public education in the state? School Choice Ohio Executive Director Chad Aldis explains in the article that the bill “empowers parents and focuses on the needs of the individual child.”
Study: Many top-rated schools don’t deserve ranking
The Cincinnati Enquirer
November 15, 2011
A report released by the Ohio Association for Gifted Children titled “Grading on a Curve: the Illusion of Excellence in Ohio’s Schools” calls Ohio’s system of school report cards “an illusion or cruel hoax.” The OAGC believes that the state should consider how well a school prepares its students for college as opposed to only looking at whether students meet the minimum academic standards. The article states that State Superintendent Stan Heffner agrees with the findings in the report. He says that the state’s system of standards was set too low. He says the state is adopting tougher standards and tests.
Campout at school enters second week
The Cincinnati Enquirer
November 14, 2011
Parents entered their second week of camping out in line to get their child into Fairview-Clifton German Language School, a Cincinnati Public Schools magnet program. More than 45 parents or family members camped outside the school beginning on Nov. 6. The first-come, first-serve application period for the magnet schools opened on Nov. 16.
Ohio teachers will be graded on students’ academic growth
The Plain Dealer
November 13, 2011
This year, 30 percent of districts statewide are participating in a teacher rating pilot program. Participating teachers will receive a value-added rating. It will look at the level of their students’ learning and whether they are meeting, exceeding or failing to meet expectations over a year in reading and math in grades four through eight. ODE officials say that three years of data should be collected before making any judgments, but over time, there will be a pattern that will clearly identify good teachers.
TPS gets low mark in Ohio rankings
Toledo Blade
November 11, 2011
Toledo Public School District was ranked 708 out of 937 districts in the state, putting it in the bottom fourth of Ohio’s public schools. Superintendent Jerome Pecko says this is the reason why the district is implementing significant initiatives that they hope will improve the district’s performance.
Families can choose schools that fit
Indy Star
November 15, 2011
This Op-Ed was written by Brian Hudson, who is a principal at a private school in Indianapolis that participates in the state’s new school voucher program. He stresses that school choice isn’t about public schools versus private schools. He talks about the supportive partnership that his school has with the local public school, which he says has added to both schools’ educational experience.
Wednesday, Cincinnati Public Schools opened its first-come, first serve application window for its magnet elementary schools. This day surely came as a relief to the more than 45 Ohio parents and family members who camped out in front of Fairview-Clifton German Language School since Nov. 6 to secure their spot in line.
This shows just how far parents are willing to go to ensure that their child receives an education that best fits his or her learning needs. These parents are investing in their child’s academic success. The Cincinnati Enquirer quotes a parent in one articlesaying, “I wish the line didn’t start this early, but in the long run, it’ll be worth it.”
A second article quoted another parent saying of her daughter, “She deserves the best. And I feel she should get it. So here I am.”
The Enquirer ran a follow-up storyyesterday talking with many families who were ecstatic that they were able to secure their child’s seat in one of the innovative magnet schools. For some, though, the outcome wasn’t nearly as exciting. One man interviewed for the story showed up to one of the magnet schools a mere 90 minutes after the parent who secured the last open kindergarten spot. His child is now on the waiting list.
This underscores an important problem with Cincinnati’s first-come, first-serve application process. Many parents can’t camp out in a line for 10 days for a variety of reasons, such as work, child care, or transportation. That shouldn’t mean that their children should be denied the opportunity to attend the school of their choice.
In Cleveland and Columbus, the school districts use a lottery system to avoid a first-come, first serve process, but the Cincinnati Enquirer said parents in Cincinnati have opposed switching to a similar system.
Cincinnati Public Schools did, however, open up a limited lottery for students in specified low-performing schools for a portion of the open spots. But it is clear based on the number of people camping out for days that these innovative schools are in high demand and that demand is exceeding the supply.
In July, the Cincinnati school board voted to become a “district of choice,” meaning that they intend to create even more special programs and options for its students. We hope that these new options come to fruition, because it is clear that the parents in Cincinnati want to be involved in their children’s education, and as a school district, Cincinnati Public Schools should be doing everything they can to encourage parents’ involvement and input. Parents, after all, are in the best position to choose the best educational path for their child.
Twenty-four hours was all it took to raise some serious dollars for education in Ohio. School Choice Ohio brought in over $12,000 ($12,553 to be exact!) during The Columbus Foundation’s “Big Give” last week. For their part, The Columbus Foundation has offered $2,043 in matching funds, making our grand total for the day $14,596!
And, we have even BIGGER news! With the very generous offer from one of our devoted donors, SCO’s earnings will be matched, dollar for dollar. That’s $29,192 in just one day!
We are so thankful to all of our faithful supporters who made this day possible. These contributions will go so far in creating real change in the school choice movement in Ohio, and that’s all because of you. This is a real investment in the education of Ohio’s students, and we are truly grateful.
If you’d like to build on this tremendous momentum, or missed out on the opportunity to give last week, you can contribute to SCO here. These dollars will also be matched 100%, so you still have a chance to increase your impact! Let’s keep going!
Our friends at the Ohio Association for Gifted Children released a new report today called “Grading on a Curve: The Illusion of Excellence in Ohio’s Schools,” which finds that Ohio’s school rating system can be very deceptive. Today in Ohio, 352 school districts (almost 60 percent of all districts) are rated excellent or excellent with distinction. That sounds very promising on the surface, but this report takes a deeper look at the performance of each of these schools to show how they really stack up.
Below are some of the findings highlighted in the report:
Based on their findings, the Ohio Association for Gifted Children makes several recommendations, including eliminating the labeling of districts until a meaningful system can be developed. School Choice Ohio shared a similar recommendation in October, which called for Ohio to create crystal clear, meaningful state ratings for schools.
The statistics shared in the OAGC’s report show that even in the state’s highest performing public schools, there are still some students whose educational needs are not being met. For those students, it is crucial that they have options so that they can reach their full academic potential. House Bill 136 would create an income-based scholarship program that would give the state’s low-and middle income families the opportunity to find the educational environment that best meets their child’s unique learning needs.
Campouts begin early at popular CPS school
The Cincinnati Enquirer
November 8, 2011
The application date for Fairview-Clifton German Language School is Nov. 16, but many parents have been camping out to hold their spot in line since Sunday and the line keeps growing. Cincinnati magnet schools accept applications on a first-come, first-served basis, and it has become common for parents to camp out to secure their child’s spot. This application method has received criticism because not every parent has the ability to camp out for that length of time due to prior commitments.
Demographics suggest trouble for some schools
The Columbus Dispatch
November 7, 2011
A spokesman for the Ohio School Facilities Commission tells the Dispatch that it is predicted that Ohio’s enrollment in traditional school districts will decline. Their prediction does not include enrollment in other school types. Columbus Schools say that they expect that charter schools and the school voucher programs will attract many of the younger students who live in the district, so they do not expect dramatic growth in enrollment.
Local officials against expanding school vouchers
Cuyahoga Falls News Press
November 6, 2011
Cuyahoga Falls and Woodridge school district officials speak out in opposition to House Bill 136 in this article, saying that it would have a negative impact on their districts’ financial situation. School Choice Ohio’s Executive Director Chad Aldis counters in the article that this bill is not an attack on public education. It is simply another option for students who aren’t progressing in their current educational environment.
Area school board members struggle with smaller budgets, effects of school choice
The NewsOutlet
November 7, 2011
This article profiles Springfield Local school board member Mary Lou Dodson and Lisa Mansfield, a member of the Akron Board of Education. Both Dodson and Mansfield discuss the importance of school finance issues in the role of a local school board member.
Charter schools draw students and money from high-ranking suburban districts
The Plain Dealer
November 6, 2011
This article discusses the growing number of suburban students enrolling in charter schools, despite the fact that their home districts receive high rankings from the state. As those children leave, tax money follows the child to the charter school, which district officials say is unfair because the state says they are doing a good job. Senator Schiavoni is the sponsor of Senate Bill 175, which says students should not be able to leave their home school district for a charter school if that charter school’s state ranking is lower than that of their district. Ohio Coalition for Quality Education’s Ron Adler counters in the article that even a district that receives a high ranking may not be able to meet the educational needs of each individual student.
Students Flee Districts With Lower Test Scores, But Voucher Schools Aren’t Always Better
StateImpact Indiana
November 4, 2011
A report released by the state of Indiana showed that 75 percent of students now enrolled in the state’s school voucher program came from a school district with a passage rate on standardized tests of less than 70 percent. StateImpact Indiana goes on to analyze the performance data from the private schools that those students now attend.
Expand education choices
The Detroit News
November 3, 2011
This commentary by Jim Barrett, chairman of the Great Lakes Education Project, and Rich Studley, president of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, discusses Michigan’s “Parental Empowerment Education Reform” package. They encourage Michigan lawmakers to act quickly to approve the bills in the package for the sake of the state’s children.
Yvonne Schwab, principal of St. James the Less Catholic School located in Columbus, was one of five private school principals in the nation named as a National Distinguished Principal by the U.S. Department of Education and the National Association of Elementary School Principals.
Yvonne’s school, St. James the Less, has 397 EdChoice students – the largest number of EdChoice Scholarship recipients at a single school in the state.
Yvonne’s dedication to her students, her school, and her community is outstanding, and we are thrilled that she is receiving national recognition for a job well done.
The National Distinguished Principals program began in 1984. The program honors public and private school principals who make superior contributions to their schools and communities. This year, 61 school administrators were recognized with the award. Click here to check out the 2011 National Distinguished Principals from Ohio.