Have you ever wondered what it takes to start a school? Ben Colas, an innovator in K-12 education is doing the work to bring proven educational innovations to families and students in Northeast Ohio. Ben Colas is the founder of Heights Academy, slated to open for the 2025-26 school year. Heights Academy is designed…
Sharing stories of educational choice is key to understanding its importance for Ohio families. While the issue of educational choice may be debated, the experience and success of students who were given a choice are powerful. It is clear to see that Brandy Williams is a mama bear. As the parents of 9 children, Brandy…
Sharing stories of educational choice is key to understanding its importance for Ohio families. While the issue of educational choice may be debated, the experience and success of students who were given a choice are powerful. Kristen Ostrosky and her children, Anthony (19) and Sara (16) have experienced what school choice can do for a…
Educators are making a difference in the lives of students all over Ohio through a wide variety of educational settings. While test scores can be one indicator of progress, it is impossible to gauge success without considering the individual students and their experience, both past and present. A recent visit to a community (charter) school…
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…
The majority of Ohio families are happy with their local public schools. Scholarship usage has not created the mass exodus from public education or the “avalanche” of EdChoice scholarship applications as was predicted prior to the passage of HB33 in July 2023, which established universal school choice for Ohio families. The numbers of scholarships for…
Most families in Ohio choose their public schools for their child’s education. With that in mind, would it make sense to reduce funding for the largest educational option in our state? Those in opposition to school choice would have people believe that educational funding is taking money from public education to fund scholarships for the…
There is much debate about educational choice, not only in Ohio but all across the country. One consistent argument made by those who oppose school choice is that Ohio’s scholarship programs have resulted in lack of diversity or the “haves” or “have nots” in education. That is a claim that needs to be closely examined. …
Now, EVERY student is eligible for a Universal School Choice scholarship to attend the (participating) private school of their choice. Students in grades K-12 whose family’s household income is at 450% of the Federal Poverty Level or less qualify for the full scholarship award of $6166 (K-8) and $8408 (9-12). Students whose family’s household income…
Scholarship Granting Organizations are a lifeline to families trying to access school choice for their students. It is very simple…yes! Ohioans can now designate their tax dollars toward tuition assistance to students at the school that they choose. HB110, Ohio’s biennial budget passed in July 2021, included a provision for the establishment of Scholarship Granting…
by Rabbi Eric “Yitz Frank and Peter Murphy Ohio made education history nearly 22 years ago when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Zelman vs. Simmons-Harris (2002) that the city of Cleveland’s education voucher program was constitutional, such that parents, not the government, freely exercised their First Amendment religious freedom to select schools for their…
Does the thought of a parent-teacher conference give you some anxiety? It doesn’t have to! Parent-teacher conferences are an important tool in your child’s education. A successful parent-teacher conference can provide benefits throughout the school year for both you and your student. Just a few hints to make your conference more successful: A few questions…
