Ohio School Voucher Program Achieves Greatest Success As Demand Exceeds Supply
More Students Want Vouchers than State Policy Will Allow

(Columbus, Ohio, April 19, 2010) 

More Ohio families want school vouchers than state policy will currently allow, according to applications received by the Ohio Department of Education.

For the first time, the popular Educational Choice (EdChoice) Scholarship Program—which provides children in chronically underperforming public schools with the opportunity to receive vouchers to attend private schools—has reached its state-imposed cap of 14,000 students.

The application period for the 2010-2011 school year is now closed, and officials at School Choice Ohio are estimating that EdChoice voucher enrollment will grow by more than 10 percent next year. Parents of 14,696 Ohio students have applied for their children to receive vouchers next school year.

The program, which currently serves over 11,000 children from across Ohio, was enacted in 2005 and began with around 3,000 students in its first year. The EdChoice program is one of America's largest voucher programs—and the nation's single largest voucher program designed specifically to provide educational opportunities to children who are attending low-performing public schools.

"The tremendous growth of the EdChoice program over just five years demonstrates that when parents have the power to choose the best schools for their children, they maximize their opportunities," said Chad Aldis, executive director of School Choice Ohio. "EdChoice is making a positive difference in the lives of thousands of Ohio children, so I'm not surprised by the popularity of this program or the fact that EdChoice reached its cap so quickly."

EdChoice scholarships are worth up to $4,250 per year at the elementary and middle school level and up to $5,000 per year at the high school level. More than 270 private schools statewide are registered to accept the scholarship. Once a student obtains a scholarship, she or he can continue to renew the scholarship through high school graduation.

# # # MEDIA SERVICES
School Choice Ohio is available to provide assistance to members of the media who seek to cover the EdChoice program. For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Chad L. Aldis, Executive Director (614) 223-1555 caldis@scohio.org

Historical EdChoice Application Information


Interviewing Parents & Students
School Choice Ohio can arrange interviews with members of the media and parents who receive EdChoice vouchers for their children. These parents can discuss the application process and the benefits of the EdChoice program. Parents are available in the following cities:

• Cincinnati
• Columbus
• Dayton
• Mansfield
• Toledo

Find Out If Your Local Schools Qualify
To see if your local public school is underperforming and qualifies children for EdChoice vouchers, download the list at www.SCOHIO.org or use this direct link:

http://www.scohio.org/PDF/ECEligiblePublicSchools10-11-1-20-10.pdf

You can also visit www.SCOHIO.org to download a list of eligible private schools.

About School Choice Ohio
School Choice Ohio (SCO) is committed to the goal of every child in Ohio having access to a quality education. Because this is not yet a reality, the organization works tirelessly to educate both the public and our leaders on the importance of empowering parents to find the best educational setting for the needs of their children. SCO believes that all parents should have the opportunity to choose which school is best for their children, regardless of their income level.