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.

Shari Perkins’ son Randell faced some challenges in reading and comprehension early in elementary school, but his needs were not reliably or consistently met. Shari relates, “Randell was not encouraged to perform at the level I knew he was capable of. Our family always encourages our kids to be the best they can be, but that message was not conveyed in the classroom.”

Shari first heard about the EdChoice scholarship program from another parent whose children went to the same elementary school the previous year. She immediately applied. “During the interview process, Randell met with the principal, and it was like a breath of fresh air!! He explained that while the curriculum would be a little tougher, he knew that Randell could perform at that level and that he had every confidence that Randell would be a successful student.”

Randell was admitted to the private school and received the EdChoice Scholarship. “What a difference that made in Randell’s life. Randell could see that other people believed in him. His confidence and grades shot through the roof! Since he has been at his current school, he has been on Honor Roll every grading period.”

Shari continues: “We have another son, Nehemiah, who will be attending the same school through the EdChoice program. We are thankful that we have a choice in where our children are educated, where they can reach their full potential, and where they are encouraged to do their best. Thank you EdChoice for making such an important and powerful impact on our family. We love EdChoice!”

Shari is indebted to that parent who first told her about the opportunities and possibilities for Randell through EdChoice. And now she gives back in the same way. “I became a school choice ambassador so I could ‘get the word out’ about this wonderful program. Many parents (as I did) think funding for the program is ‘just there.’ Many don’t realize that … there needs to be a voice from the participants in the program to keep EdChoice in the forefront of our political leaders’ minds.”

Shari is right. The scholarship program is at maximum capacity this year. Unless people speak out and legislators respond by lifting the EdChoice cap, it’s likely that thousands of student applicants will be turned away next year. Visit our website to see how you can begin to make a difference for students across Ohio.

The Foundation for Educational Choice recently highlighted the great work that Ohio families that use vouchers are doing to promote and protect their options.

The feature, “Parent ambassadors key to school choice in Ohio,” shines a spotlight on the creativity and commitment of Ohio families who are committed to their children’s education.

Even as School Choice Ohio empowers parents with information about their own education options, a concerted effort is being made to empower them to raise their voices in broader education conversations. When parents connect with other parent ambassadors and learn to share their stories, it creates a megaphone for the school choice message.

School Choice Ohio focuses on face to face interactions that have the most impact. Many parents were engaged as participants in political rallies and sent form letters to voice their support. While those are good beginning steps, parents can be engaged more authentically to make the most of their insight.

When equipped with tools, parents raise their voices in big ways. Families in key cities across the state have taken different creative approaches. Groups have marched in local parades, organized information meetings, distributed flyers at community events, spoken at conferences, and met with community leaders to build awareness of Ohio’s three voucher programs.

Ambassadors are also involved in policy conversations. In 2008, concerned about budget challenges to the EdChoice Scholarship, families started working to protect the scholarship. They met with legislators, sent letters describing the transformations they have seen in their children, and hosted legislators on tours of their schools.

In less than six months, more than 100 ambassadors connected with dozens of the state’s most important legislators to share their EdChoice stories. Parents were thrilled to see their scholarship programs survive one of the most difficult budget years in recent history.

The most important voice and involvement in a child’s education is a parent’s. As families are empowered to speak up, they are making their voices heard and making an impact for their own children and the children of Ohio.

Kudos to the ambassadors, who are speaking up and making a difference.

- Sarah Pechan

Rounding out a decade of booming growth in education options, school choice moved forward in 2009 with new energy and quality. Among the year’s highlights:

• The number of Ohio students using the state’s three scholarship programs continued to climb. In 2009, more than 20,000 students benefitted from the Autism Scholarship, Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program, and EdChoice Scholarship.

• School choice programs survived threats of severe budget cuts in a difficult financial year. Despite some fiscal cuts, these options remain for families searching for the best environment for their children’s education.

• The Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program received international attention. School Choice Ohio staff and other Ohio education leaders met with Japanese education officials looking to emulate Ohio’s school choice programs.

• More and more parents raised their voices for school choice. Active parental school choice ambassadors are organizing EdChoice floats in community parades, hosting community information meetings, inviting legislators to visit their schools, speaking at conferences, and telling the story of school choice across Ohio. 

• High quality, innovative public school choice options in Cleveland garnered well-earned praise. In a school district that struggles to overcome a lot of obstacles and inertia, school choice is a point of light thanks to school leaders for whom “failure is not an option; neither is mediocrity.”

• New state testing and reporting requirements means increased transparency for Ohio’s scholarship programs. Parents and the public will have more information than ever about how students using vouchers achieve and grow academically.

• The Ohio Senate included the creation of a new Special Education Scholarship in their version of the state budget. The proposed scholarship would expand the Autism Scholarship to students with all learning disabilities. It was nixed before becoming law, but families continue to seek alternatives.

And with that, we here at School Choice Ohio wish you a Happy New Year!

- Sarah Pechan