Today is report card day for Ohio’s schools. Each charter school and traditional public school received a state rating – an A-F grade– based on student test scores and other factors.

What’s new this year? For the first time, schools could be dinged for their value-added results. Schools whose students did not learn an average year’s worth of material can see their ratings lowered. We commend the state of Ohio for highlighting the impact of individual schools on moving students toward proficiency.

This year, 443 schools earned a “D” or “F” grade, 21 fewer than last year. An improvement – yes. But, still too few students in these schools are acquiring the skills they need for future success.

This is one reason school choice is so important. Families of kids in schools where excellence is not yet widespread need other options.

The EdChoice Scholarship will allow some of these students to attend a private school next year. Because eligibility for the EdChoice Scholarship is based on these state ratings, the eligible population changes every year. Last year, the lowest 5% of schools were designated as under-performing and students in these 199 schools in 27 districts were eligible for a private school scholarship option.

This year’s EdChoice public school list will be released by the ODE early next month. How will this year’s changes to the rating system affect eligibility? A lot of parents are eager to see how this will shake out for their kids.

- Sarah Pechan