School Choice Ohio Blog

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.”