It’s a Wrap! Thank you Ohio!

The School Choice Ohio team had a great time at the 2024 Ohio State Fair.  You all have given the SCO team some important takeaways from all across our state.

Twelve days may seem like a long time, but this year’s fair was over in the blink of an eye.  One of the main reasons it went by so quickly is that our team was entertained and engaged by the participants and Ohioans who attended this year’s fair.

Some of our favorite things at the Fair

The All-Ohio State Fair Band was founded in 1925 and was known as the All-Ohio Boys’ State Fair Band. It was then, as is now, comprised of superior musicians from throughout the State of Ohio. Current Director, Brian W. Dodd, is a seventeen-year member of the staff and is now in his ninth year as Director of the AOSFB.

• The All Ohio State Fair Band was amazing.  Ohio student musicians did an amazing job entertaining fairgoers every day.  We looked forward to their visit to the Bricker Building every day.
• The animals were fascinating.  It was fun to arrive at the fair in the morning to see someone walking their cow down the street or see a carriage being drawn by beautiful (and big!) Clydesdales.
• It has been great to witness the varieties of daily life for people in Ohio.  From cities and industry to rural areas filled with farms and livestock, Ohio truly is the Heart of It All!
• We are thankful for the special guests who stopped by our table! Guests included elected officials, legislative aids, school leadership and most importantly, families and students from all over Ohio.  We greatly appreciate your show of support for the work we do to expand and enhance educational choice for all K-12 students in Ohio.
• Frank enjoyed his time at the fair and got a lot of love from some of the cutest kiddos!
• Fair food – what else can we say?  Yum!

What We Take Away From the Fair

• In speaking with a lot of Ohio families, parents and guardians are happy to have the ability to choose what’s right for their students, whether it is public, private, charter, STEM, vocational or home education.
• Educational choice is about putting students first.  Others (who also had a presence at the fair) who oppose educational choice spoke a lot about money, not about what’s best for over 1.6 million K-12 students in Ohio.
• Grandparents showed some very strong support!  Many stopped to chat, while others gave us a big thumbs up to indicate their approval of the work we are doing to advocate, inform, and assist families across Ohio.
• A number of public school employees stopped by to say hello and indicate their support for school choice.  They understand that one option cannot possibly meet the needs of every individual child, and some have children enrolled in alternate educational options.
• We were thankful to hear some of the stories that families shared about what choice has done to help their children become better learners and start to thrive.
• Not everyone is aware that every student is eligible for Universal School Choice.  We love an opportunity to share the good news and help to inform all Ohioans that our state is a national leader in educational choice.
• Do you have questions? Need assistance? Reach out to the SCO team at info@scohio.org or by phone to 614-223-1555.

Thank you Ohio! We can’t wait to see you all next year!