Monthly Archives: April 2012

Autism Scholarship Recipient Inspires Her Mother

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As Autism Awareness Month comes to an end, we leave you with this story from Toni who is the mother of a child with Autism. Toni shared her family’s story with SCO in 2010. This year, we are excited to share an update on her daughter, Tommi Lee, who was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome at age 5. Below are some excerpts from Toni and Tommi Lee’s story as told in 2010, and the update on Tommi Lee follows.

My daughter Tommi Lee is 16 years old. She was diagnosed with Asperger Syndrome when she was five years old. Like most parents, my initial reaction to the diagnosis was denial and confusion. After several days of processing and researching the term Asperger Syndrome, I finally accepted it. Instead of being reactive, I became proactive by seeking an Early Intervention Program. Tommi Lee and I participated in 18 months of learning behavioral modification skills. It was one of the most humbling experiences that I have endured. This gave me an opportunity to see other families and learn from how they handle their problems. Overall, this was a great journey for us.

Our experience in the public and charter schools was not the best. They had a tendency to treat and teach every child as if they had the same needs. As a result, it stifled Tommi Lee’s progression. Tommi Lee needed to be challenged.

I discovered the Autism Scholarship when Tommi Lee was 13. I could not believe how easy it was to complete the application as well as the quick turn around. She has come a long way from being very extremely shy to very sociable. Tommi Lee basically serves as the teacher’s assistant. At her new school, the focus is on the child’s strengths vs. their deficits. Tommi Lee excels in writing, computer, and helping the other students.

I’m very proud to say that I am inspired by Tommi Lee, and I believe that she will continue to develop more skills and live a happy fulfilling life.

UPDATE
Recently, we asked Toni to share an update on how Tommi Lee is doing and how the Ohio Autism Scholarship continues to impact their family. She was happy to report that Tommi Lee is making great progress socially. She is in a school that is not over-stimulating, and her teachers are experts in working with students who have Autism. Toni says that she strongly encourages parents of children with Autism to consider applying for the Ohio Autism Scholarship so that they can have access to more choices for their child’s education.

We are thrilled to hear that Tommi Lee is continuing to make progress. Thank you for the update, Toni!

Cleveland parents could see much-needed relief

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Representative Bill Patmon, a champion for Cleveland students, released the below statement today lauding a crucially-important next step toward equity for Cleveland voucher recipients. The House of Representatives passed the bill Wednesday with the support of Cleveland Democratic Representatives Patmon, John Barnes, and Sandra Williams.

Representative Bill Patmon Lobbies for and Receives the Passing of Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program change

Mid-biennium budget review amendment eliminates parental co-pay for Cleveland families

COLUMBUS, Ohio – State Representative Bill Patmon today announced that among the provisions included in House Bill 487, the mid-biennium budget review bill, was an amendment that eliminates the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program parental co-payment for families residing within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.

 “This is all about equality. The hardworking parents of this city are the only ones in the state who are saddled with this burden,” said Representative Patmon.  “The House of Representatives has signaled its commitment to improving the educational options for the students of the city by moving to eliminate this unjust hardship.”

Families who participate in the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program are the only families in the state that are required to make a co-payment to receive a scholarship. There is no co-pay requirement in any of the state’s three other school voucher programs.

“The bipartisan support that this bill received in the House sends a strong message that we are committed to providing equal opportunities for students in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District,” said Patmon. “I encourage my colleagues in the Senate as well as Governor Kasich to embrace this needed reform.”

The Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program was created in 1995 as the state’s first school voucher program and is only the second program of its kind in the nation. The Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program offers scholarships to students who live within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. Students can use the scholarships to assist with tuition at the participating private school of their choice. Currently, more than 5,000 Cleveland students receive this scholarship.

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As Cleveland principal Peggy Schauer shared in a blog post last year, this change would be a much-needed relief for the low-income parents who use the Cleveland voucher. We encourage you to contact your legislators to let them know you also support this legislation.

School Choice and Education News

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April 19 – April 26, 2012

Ohio

Special-needs students seeking new vouchers
The Columbus Dispatch
April 23, 2012
The Dispatch reports that in Franklin County, students from 11 of the county’s 16 school districts applied for the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program. In all, 1,544 Ohio students applied for a special needs scholarship. School Choice Ohio Executive Director Matt Cox tells The Dispatch that the first application period was very successful, and he expects the number of applicants to grow a lot in the future. A parent from Marburn Academy who applied for the scholarship for his son says that attending Marburn has “been a life-changer” for his child.

Parity needed in Cleveland Plan for those using school vouchers: Richard Clark
The Plain Dealer
April 21, 2012
This is a guest column from Richard Clark, president of Saint Martin de Porres High School and School Choice Ohio board member. He applauds Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson and CEO Eric Gordon’s plan to improve the city’s education system. Clark calls for Jackson, Governor Kasich and legislative leaders to strengthen the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program (CSTP) as part of the Cleveland Plan by eliminating the program’s co-pay requirement. The CSTP is the only school voucher program in the state that requires a co-payment.

At-Risk students hard to grade
The Columbus Dispatch
April 25, 2012
This article looks at how dropout-recovery schools fit into the proposal for a new school rating system. The Dispatch reports that there are nearly 16,000 students who attend the state’s 87 dropout-recovery schools. Advocates say that these charter schools should not be held to the same standards as traditional schools. The new school rating system is part of the education initiatives in Governor Kasich’s mid-biennium budget review.

Cleveland schools legislation to move forward at the Ohio Statehouse
The Plain Dealer
April 23, 2012
A bill that could overhaul the Cleveland education system was reintroduced in the Statehouse with bipartisan sponsorship and the support of both the Cleveland Teachers Union and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson. Senator Peggy Lehner and Senator Nina Turner are the sponsors of the Senate bill. Sen. Turner tells The Plain Dealer “I think we have a moral obligation to do this because we can’t leave another generation behind.”

Fairfield schools to allow open enrollment
Cincinnati Enquirer
April 20, 2012
Fairfield City Schools will allow open enrollment for the first time in the district’s history. The district believes allowing open enrollment could help offset the funding that is lost when Fairfield students open enroll to other districts. Applications for open enrollment will be available from the district in early July. The Enquirer reports that approximately 78 percent of the state’s school districts have open enrollment policies.

CPS busing costs go up, up, ouch!
Cincinnati Enquirer
April 19, 2012
The Cincinnati Public Schools’ transportation costs have escalated. The district expects to spend approximately $29.5 million this year to transport students to and from school. This article looks at how school choice impacts the transportation costs. The district’s transportation services are still above state minimums, and a CPS spokesperson says the district is very reluctant to reduce services.

Updated academic plan approved for Youngstown schools
Youngstown Vindicator
April 20, 2012
A plan to help get Youngstown City Schools out of academic distress was approved by State Superintendent Stan Heffner. The plan consists of seven strategies, including increasing student choice options. Heffner called the plan a “solid approach to improving student achievement.” School Board President Lock P. Beachum Sr. noted that the costs associated with the plan have not been determined.

Reading test would hold back 12% of third-graders
The Columbus Dispatch
April 26, 2012
The Dispatch reports that last year, less than one percent (800 students) of Ohio third-graders were held back. If the third-grade reading guarantee proposed by Gov. Kasich were in place, that number would be closer to 12 percent, or 15,000 students. If the proposal is approved by legislators, the initiative would begin next school year.

National

Second voucher plan clears Legislature, heads to Gov. Bobby Jindal’s desk
The Times-Picayune
April 24, 2012
A second school voucher proposal was approved by both legislative chambers in Louisiana on Tuesday. It will now go to Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal for approval. The program will allow corporations and individuals to receive rebates when they make contributions to private organizations that give private school tuition scholarships.

Tomorrow is School Choice Advocacy Day at Ohio Statehouse

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Tomorrow is School Choice Advocacy Day at the Ohio Statehouse, and we are thrilled that more than 50 parents, students, and school choice supporters will be making the trip to Columbus to talk with their legislators about the importance of school choice.

Participants in School Choice Advocacy Day believe that every child in Ohio deserves a quality education that best meets his or her learning needs and that parents should have the life-changing opportunity to choose the school that will best prepare their child for success.

We are so excited to have such a great group of advocates joining us for the day.

Scholarship parents and students will share their personal success stories about how Ohio’s school choice programs are changing their lives. Other parents will share with their legislators that they wish they had a choice in their child’s education. Supporters will explain why they are so passionate about school choice.

We would like to extend a big thank you to all who are participating. We can’t wait to see you tomorrow!

Do you want to be involved in future events promoting school choice in Ohio? Get involved today! Check back tomorrow for photos from School Choice Advocacy Day!

SCO Interns Play Vital Role in Future of School Choice

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It is National Volunteer Appreciation Week! This week, School Choice Ohio will highlight the work of the many volunteers who help spread the word about the importance of school choice. Today, we share our appreciation for our volunteer student interns. These students represent the next generation of education leaders and we are so grateful for their work on the ground with us.

Interns play a vital role in the future of school choice. They delve deeply into the world of school choice through their work and leave with a deep understanding of the importance, context, and struggles of the school choice movement.

They work with us for months at a time, devoting their time and talent to the work of advertising the many school options that are available to Ohio students and advocating for more and better opportunities. They attend events, help us Tweet, network with other education reform leaders, contact partners, build tools, coordinate essay contests, and so much more.

Thank you, Rachel, Marisa, Marjorie, Alex, Lisa, Krista, and Heather for volunteering with us!

If you would like to become an intern or know someone who might be interested, you can find more information here.

School Choice and Education News

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April 12 – April 19, 2012

Ohio

School-voucher programs prove popular
The Columbus Dispatch
April 17, 2012
The application numbers are in for the EdChoice Scholarship Program and the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program. The Dispatch reports that 17,438 EdChoice applications were filed for the next school year. There were 640 new applications and 2,508 renewal applications submitted by Columbus students for the scholarship. In addition, 1,544 Ohio students applied for a special needs scholarship.

Fewer Lima families seeking vouchers
The Lima News
April 17, 2012
According to the Ohio Department of Education, 245 Lima students applied for an EdChoice scholarship, and of those, 31 are new applicants. The total number of Lima applicants is less than last year’s number of applicants. Lima City School District Assistant Superintendent Jill Ackerman credits the district’s recent restructuring that provides more options within the district, including two K-8 magnet programs. The number of available EdChoice Scholarships increased last year. SCO Executive Director Matt Cox tells The Lima News that it is clear Ohio’s elected leaders realize that parents deserve the opportunity to send their children to a school that best fits their education needs.

CPS to lose fewer students to private schools
The Cincinnati Enquirer
April 17, 2012
In Cincinnati, 899 students applied for an EdChoice Scholarship for the 2012-13 school year. Last year, 1,078 Cincinnati students applied. A spokeswoman for Cincinnati Public schools tells the Enquirer that it is a sign that the district has improved. She highlights the district’s progress, especially in their lowest performing elementary schools, which she says plays a factor in keeping more students within the district.

Parents hear pitch for open enrollment
The Columbus Dispatch
April 13, 2012
Reynoldsburg schools are considering an open-enrollment policy, which they say will bring in additional revenue and possibly delay a future levy. The district held a forum for parents to ask questions. The Dispatch reports that more than 60 parents and community members attended the meeting. The forum featured stories from officials in other suburban districts across the state with open-enrollment policies.

State to target achievement gaps among students
The Columbus Dispatch
April 15, 2012
The state of Ohio will soon be looking at how quickly both the passing rates on state exams and graduation rates become equal among different student groups within schools. State officials say the point of grading schools on this information is because all students should receive an education of equal quality, regardless of race, ethnicity, income or special needs. By 2017, the state’s goal is to cut the gap in passing rates in half.

Schools, teachers seek delay in changes to state report cards
The Columbus Dispatch
April 18, 2012
Teachers unions and education groups asked legislators for a delay in the state’s new school grading system. Rob Nichols, spokesman for Governor Kasich, tells the Dispatch that the administration is not seeking a delay, and they want the new grading system to go into effect this year. The proposal for the new grading system was included in the mid-biennium budget proposal and was included in the state’s plan as an alternative to No Child Left Behind.

Cleveland Teachers Union and Mayor Frank Jackson reach deal on mayor’s school plan
The Plain Dealer
April 12, 2012
The Cleveland Teachers Union and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson reached a compromise on the plan to overhaul the city’s education system. The Plain Dealer reports that the compromise will result in major changes to contract rules with regards to teacher assignments, seniority, pay, evaluation, layoff and recall. These changes will give the district more flexibility as it works to overhaul schools. Mayor Jackson said “tradition and politics became secondary to quality education.”

 
National

Gov. Bobby Jindal signs into law measure to revamp education in Louisiana
The Times-Picayune
April 18, 2012
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal signed an extensive package into law that creates a school voucher program for low income students, new paths to open charter schools, and the connection of teacher tenure and compensation to student performance. Approximately 380,000 students will be eligible for the state’s voucher program.

Louisiana Governor Signs School Choice Expansion

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School Choice Ohio would like to extend a big CONGRATULATIONS to the state of Louisiana! Gov. Bobby Jindal signed into law an expanded school choice program that will allow for 380,000 students to be eligible for a school voucher. This is great news for those Louisiana students and their families!

Our friends from the American Federation for Children and The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice issued press releases marking this momentous occasion. Each included powerful quotes from leaders of those organizations.

“States are realizing that school choice works. The more that states can move from limited school choice to universal availability, the greater its benefits will be to those in need. Indiana is witnessing this now. So, too, will Louisiana.”
-Robert Enlow, president and CEO of the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice
Read The Friedman Foundation’s full press release here.

“This is a great day for low-income children in Louisiana, whose parents will finally have the opportunity to give them the chance at an amazing education that they deserve. Thousands of students who were stuck in schools that were not working for them will now have an opportunity to attend a school that fits their needs and, ultimately, allows them to succeed.”
-Kevin P. Chavous, senior adviser to AFC
Read the American Federation for Children’s full press release here.

Click here to read the article from The Times-Picayune about how this will impact Louisiana students and families.

Special Needs Scholarship Empowers Ohio Families

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While some of us rushed to file taxes before this week’s deadline, parents and schools were finishing up their scholarship applications to beat the first application deadline for Ohio’s Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship.

The scholarship, which extended the successful Autism Scholarship to students with any disability, is already hugely popular in its first year with more than 1,500 student applications.

The scholarship got off to a slow start because of contested administrative rules that pushed back the scholarship start time. With just two months to apply, parents scrambled to locate the programs in their area that would be best suited for their children. School Choice Ohio held information sessions across the state to educate families and support groups about the new scholarship.

For their part, schools scrambled to hire the staff they needed, register with the Ohio Department of Education, and advertise their services to local families. After School Choice Ohio and our partners held nine regional trainings and answered innumerable emails and phone calls, we were thrilled to see private schools expanding their special needs programs, parents of students with special needs working with private schools to develop new programs, and a public district in Wayne Co (Northwestern Local Schools) in line to serve scholarship recipients from neighboring districts.

By the time the first application window ended, parents were able to choose from 167 providers in 41 counties. Clearly private schools are eager to serve students with special needs when they have the resources. Private schools typically cost less than half of public school. So the scholarship (worth $7,000-$20,000 depending on the severity of the students’ disability) allows these low-cost schools to offer or expand their special education services.

Throughout this process, our staff – especially our wonderful Special Needs Outreach Manager Cheryl Bowshier – heard story after story of parents who were absolutely thrilled to have this new scholarship option available to them. In helping parents navigate the school selection and application process, Cheryl heard countless stories like these:

  • Tera, a mom in Mansfield, worked with her private school to help them develop a new program for students with Down syndrome. After having advocated for the passage and creation of the scholarship for years, Tera is now working to provide a new innovative program for other local students like her son Sam.
  • Laura, a mom in Dayton, told about how her nonverbal son was so badly bullied in public school that he had begun to wet his pants in fear. Without any other options, she had chosen to homeschool him but felt he really needed to be in a school setting. He will now be able to attend a safe, friendly school.
  • Sharon is the foster mom to five boys with special needs, one of whom had slipped through the cracks in his school all the way through to 11th grade. On the brink of tears, she was stunned to learn about the scholarship this spring, saying “I just cannot believe this is real.” He is now slated to attend a well-respected local private school to finish out his high school career.

The vision of the heroic legislative champions who went to bat year after year for the creation of this scholarship is being realized.

Just a year ago, these parents did not have this option. Just six months ago, these parents didn’t know they had the option. Now, parents are empowered to choose, empowered to fight the bureaucracy, empowered to avoid lengthy legal battles, and empowered to secure their families’ rights.

The long-term benefits of providing the specialized instruction to reach ALL students are profound – fewer dropouts, more students prepared to live independently, the bar being raised higher, better individualized instruction, and thousands of students with special needs pulled out of the cracks.

With the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship, parents are empowered with options and student needs are placed at the center. If this first application cycle is any indication, this scholarship will join Ohio’s three other voucher programs as a life-changing piece of Ohio’s education landscape.

SCO Board Provides Valuable Leadership

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It is National Volunteer Appreciation Week! This week, School Choice Ohio will highlight the work of the many volunteers who help spread the word about the importance of school choice. Today, we share our appreciation for our volunteer Board of Directors. They all deserve a big shout out for their dedication and leadership.

Our volunteer Board of Directors provides active, critical leadership and is crucial in building goodwill for the efforts of School Choice Ohio. We appreciate the Board’s guidance and support as we all fight for the rights of parents to choose the best school for their own child.

These are the members of our board who donate substantial amounts of time and resources to support the cause of school choice in Ohio:

John Mullaney, Chair
Nord Family Foundation

Lori Drummer, Treasurer
Public Affairs & Government Relations Professional

Erica Thomas, Secretary
Parent Advocate

Richard Clark
President, Saint Martin de Porres High School

Robert Enlow
President & CEO, The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice

Charles Y. Kidwell, Jr.
Attorney, Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP

Michael Sapienza
Vice President of Marketing & Sales, Worth Point Corporation

An organization is only as strong as those who stand with it to ensure its success. We are grateful to our board members, donors, interns, partners, fans, followers, and many volunteers across the state. Their combined efforts are dramatically expanding opportunities for Ohio students to access the school that is the best fit for their learning needs.

Ohio School Vouchers Flourish as Application Periods Close

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Yesterday, the Ohio Department of Education released the number of applications received for the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program and the EdChoice Scholarship Program. In all, more than 18,900 students applied for these state-funded scholarship programs. School Choice Ohio sent the press release below following ODE’s announcement. 

Ohio School Vouchers Flourish as Application Periods Close

COLUMBUS, Ohio (April 16, 2012) – The Ohio Department of Education announced today that 18,928 applications were submitted for two state-funded scholarship programs.

The department received a total of 17,438 applications for the EdChoice Scholarship Program, which includes 3,814 new applicants.  In addition, the department received 1,544 first-time applications for the state’s new Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program.

“First, we want to thank Governor Kasich and legislative leadership for expanding in last year’s budget Ohio’s school choice options by increasing the number of EdChoice Scholarship vouchers available in Ohio and creating the new Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship.  Clearly our elected leaders have realized the basic belief that parents deserve the chance to send their children to a private school that will best fit their education needs.  We are thrilled that thousands of Ohio families applied to take advantage of these scholarship programs,” said School Choice Ohio Executive Director Matt Cox. “The number of applicants for Ohio’s school voucher programs continues to rise at a steady rate each year as more parents become empowered and aware of their educational options. We expect this trend to continue into the future.”

The EdChoice application deadline was Friday, April 13, and the John Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program application deadline was Sunday, April 15.

The EdChoice program is available for students who attend the state’s lowest rated public schools. Students can use the state-funded school voucher to attend the participating private school of their choice. Currently, more than 15,000 students receive an EdChoice scholarship.

The Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program, created in 2011, is available for students with special needs who have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Scholarship amounts will be based on the child’s special need category and will not exceed $20,000. Students may use the scholarship to pay for tuition at a private school, additional services at a private provider, or at other public schools. A second application period will open for this scholarship in October.

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