School Choice Now

Ohio Mother Turns Conviction into Into School Choice Advocacy

2012-02-23T11:47:00.000-05:00

Lastyear, citizens all across the country were rightly outraged when an Ohio mother named Kelley Williams-Bolar was jailed and convicted for acting on the most basic of parental desires: wanting to choose a safe school her children. This year, Williams-Bolar is making herconviction—that is, her conviction that parents have the right to choose thebest education for their children—into positive work to ensure that familiesacross the Buckeye State have real educational options.

InJanuary 2011, Williams-Bolar was convicted of a third-degree felony for tamperingwith records after she enrolled her daughters into a public school outside ofher assigned school using her father's address. In total, she served 10 days in jail for nothing more than wanting a choice when it comes to herdaughters’ education.

While GovernorKasich, who last year expanded two of Ohio’s school choice programs and createda voucher program for students with special needs, used his executive powers togrant clemency to Williams-Bolar, a national outcry still spread across thecountry.

Butnow, Williams-Bolar is taking her painful story and inspiring change in Ohio. This weekend, Williams-Bolar,along with long-time school choice activist Michelle Bernard, will rally for educationalequality in Cleveland.

Andthe rally isn’t the only educational reform event for this Akron mother. In fact, Williams-Bolar is spearheading the creation of the OhioParents Union, an organization designed to serve as a unified force on behalf of parents—and, perhaps, a foil to some of the very unified forces that stand in the way of school choice. Across the nation, there arefive similar organizations being formed from Connecticut to California.

A year after Williams-Bolar's harrowing ordeal, the mother, who works at the Akron Public Schools serving as an educationalassistant at Buchtel High School, finally has real educational options for her twodaughters.

Her daughters are now enrolled in the EdChoice ScholarshipProgram, a voucher program that gives scholarships to students stuck in failingschools—including the district school that Williams-Bolar was avoiding, whichwas on Academic Watch.

In2011, the EdChoice Program was greatly expanded, by quadrupling the number ofscholarships available. In the 2011-12school year, more than 16,000 students received a scholarship to attend theschool of their parents’ choice.

Let’s see how far this great mother—who has never stopped fightingfor her children’s education—will go!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

School Choice and the Silver Screen

2012-02-21T17:58:00.000-05:00

Here at School ChoiceNow!, we’re not usually in the business of movie reviews, but lately we’vebeen seeing a lot of films about education reform. This education film movement is led bybreakout hit Waiting for Superman,but now has many documentaries and a few dramas to bolster this new “educationrefilm” genre.

So want to grab some popcorn and watch a few films oneducation reform? Here’s a roundup of someof our favorites:

TheCartel (2009)—

“How has the richest and mostinnovative society on earth suddenly low the ability to teach its children at alevel that other modern countries consider “basic”?”

Directed by Bob Bowden, a formerproducer, reporter, and news anchor, this film looks at how education reform,not education spending, can change our education system. Looking at New Jersey, which in 2005 spent ashigh as $483,000 per classroom, the film looks at the cause of ourunderachievement and what can be done to ensure our children achieve, includingcharter schools and vouchers.

TheLottery (2010) —

“You could win an education”

A documentary that focuses on thelottery system—a system developed by charter schools that have more familiesthat want to attend than spots available. This film follows four families whose futures depend on this lotterysystem to escape the public school system.

TheExperiment (2011)—

Ben Lemoine’s documentary focuseson New Orleans that was rocked by Hurricane Katrina, but opened a door tocreate educational opportunity out of a natural disaster. Looking at the Recovery School District, thisfilm follows five children as they navigate through a city with charter schoolsand a voucher program for students from low-income families attending failingschools.

Race to Nowhere (2009)—

This documentary that looks at how to reshape our education so that we create happy, creative, motivated adults that thrive in jobs. Looking at the pressures on today’s students this film asks: Are the young people of today prepared to step fully and productively into their future?

Waiting for Superman (2010) —

“The fate of our country won't be decided on a battlefield, it will be determined in a classroom”

This documentary by filmmaker David Guggenheim (An Inconvenient Truth) follows five children (Anthony, Francisco, Bianca, Daisy, and Emily) and their families navigate our education system. Watch the clip below:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKTfaro96dg

Won’tBack Down (2012) —

Stepping out of the documentarygenre into a drama film, Won’t Back Down tellsthe story of two mothers who use the parent trigger law to transform theirneighborhood school. Starring ViolaDavis, Maggie Gyllenhaal, and Holly Hunter (as the union representative), thisfilm puts into practice what’s trendy in education reform: parent trigger laws,which have been passed in several states including California and Ohio, buthave yet transformed a public school into a charter school. We’ll be interested to see where Hollywood takesthis one. This movie is set to bereleased in September 2012.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

What's the Word on the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Funding Failure?

2012-02-17T18:12:00.000-05:00

After the story broke that thePresident’s budget did not include funding for the highly successful D.C. OpportunityScholarship Program, folks in Washington and all around the country had a lotto say about it. Here’s what electedofficials, talking heads, bloggers, and everyone else is saying about thePresident going back on his word:

Very disappointed to seePres. budget zeroes out funding for DC Opportunity Scholarship Program.

—SenatorJoe Lieberman via Twitter

I am committed to ensuringthat this valuable program gets the support it needs and deserves fromCongress.

—SenatorJoe Lieberman via Twitter

Unacceptable: president’s budget zeroesout funding for successful DC Opportunity Scholarship Program

—SpeakerJohn Boehner via Twitter

The advocate in me is angry, the mother in meis disheartened, and the citizen in me is saddened that one again thisAdministration has chosen to stand with special interests groups and not withthe children who need him to stand for them.

—Advocate Virginia Walden Ford

What we do this year is consistent with our budget proposalsof the last three years -- we support funding so the kids now in the programcan stay in the program but, otherwise, winding it down.

—SeniorWhite House Administration Official

In his State of the Union address last month, President Obamaspoke about the importance of kids staying in school and even urged states toraise the dropout age to 18. So it's passing strange that his new $3.8 trillionbudget provides no new money for a school voucher program in Washington, D.C.,that is producing significantly higher graduation rates than the D.C. publicschool average.

—JasonC. Riley, The Wall Street Journal

Obama has removed the entire $13 million for this program in his FY2013 budgetproposal, a move that his union supporters in the National EducationAssociation will cheer, but which will create despair among parents whosechildren will once again be denied access to school choice in Washington D.C.

—EdwardMorrissey, The Fiscal Times

Obama Budget kills DC Opportunity Scholarship Program getting inner-citykids out of failed schools.

—RoryCooper via Twitter

Obama's budget: Subsidies for the Chevy Volt,but not for the DC Opportunity Scholarship.

—William Allison viaTwitter

President Obama breaks his word onfunding DC ScholarshipProgram for low-income students.

—JebBush via Twitter

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Data Snapshot: Pennsylvania

2012-02-16T16:00:00.000-05:00

Pennsylvaniahas one scholarship tax credit program that serves more than 40,000 students.

2011Results

Number of SchoolChoice Programs: 1
Total Number ofStudents: 40,879
Total Number ofParticipating Schools: Not Available
TotalExpenditures: $48,242,880

Educational Improvement Tax Credit

2011-12 School Year Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 40,879
Schools Participating: Not Available
STOs Operating: 234
2011 Expenditures: $48,242,880

Growth in Student Participation

2012Outlook

Pennsylvaniais on the cusp of enacting strong school choice legislation. Last session, the Senate passed legislationexpanding the state’s scholarship tax credit program and enacting opportunityscholarships for students from low-income families that are stuck in failingschools. Governor Corbett is committedto making school choice a legislative priority and the state’s legislature willcontinue to debate school choice in 2012.

-American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

'The Great Equalizer' Doesn't Add Up

2012-02-15T18:26:00.003-05:00

"Education washistorically considered a great equalizer in American society, capable oflifting less advantaged children and improving their chances for success as adults.But a body of recently published scholarship suggests that the achievement gapbetween rich and poor children is widening, a development that threatens todilute education’s leveling effects."

That's lead paragraph in a front-page story that ran in TheNew York Times last week, on February 9. It tells of an often cast aside, but still terrifying fact: children fromlow-income families are not simply performing worse in school than their more affluent counterparts, but the achievement gap betweenstudents from impoverished families and affluent families is actually growing larger.

Andone in five children in the United States—that’s 15.8 million young people in total—is living in poverty, according to the 2010 U.S. Census.

The reality is that the status quo is not working to shortenthis gap. Low-income families neededucational options to choose an education that will best meet their children’seducational needs.

Education cannot be “the great equalizer” if it is not helping the children who need help most. And when a school is failing them, low-income families often do not have the option to move to a better neighborhoodor pay for private school tuition.

But school choice programs are designed for children fromlow-income families, providing much needed options for thousands of children across the nation.

In fact, 14 programs in 10 states plus the District ofColumbia are means-tested or means-preferenced, publicly funded private schoolchoice programs. Family income requirements are often a part of the enrollment process in school choice programs, ensuring that studentswhose families cannot afford choice independently are given this vital option.

Based on the federal free and reduced-price lunch program orthe federal poverty guidelines, these programs collectively serve 147,750families across the nation.

Sadly, thousands more families don't have a choice in their education. What at all is equal about that?

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Data Snapshot: Rhode Island and Iowa

2012-02-15T14:50:00.000-05:00

With the release of the Alliance for School Choice's SchoolChoice Yearbook 2011-12 (available for download here),we've spent the past few days on School Choice Now! highlighting some of thenew data and research it contains. Our final two entries, examining Rhode Island and Iowa, are below.

Rhode Island

2011Results

Number of SchoolChoice Programs: 1
Total Number ofStudents: 341
Total Number ofParticipating Schools: 55
TotalExpenditures: $592,015

Rhode Island Corporate Scholarship Tax Credit

A corporatescholarship tax credit program that allows corporations to donate to nonprofitorganizations that send students from low-income families to the school oftheir parents’ choice. The program givesa 75 percent tax credit or one-year donations and a 90 percent tax credit fortwo-year donations.

Growth in Student Participation

Iowa

2011Results

Number of SchoolChoice Programs: 1
Total Number ofStudents: 10,820
Total Number ofParticipating Schools: 158
TotalExpenditures: $11,538,448

Individual and Corporate School Tuition Organization Tax Credit

Thisprogram was expanded in 2011 by increasing the statewide cap on donations fromindividuals and corporations to $8.75 million in 2012, allowing even morestudents to receive scholarships.

Growth in Student Participation

-American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Data Snapshot: Washington, D.C.

2012-02-14T15:25:00.000-05:00

Perhapsin the most significant 2011 school choice victory, the D.C. OpportunityScholarship Program was strengthened and restored thanks to the bipartisanleadership of Speaker John Boehner and Senator Joe Lieberman. In fact, the program grew by more than 60percent thanks to reauthorization.

2011Results

Number of SchoolChoice Programs: 1
Total Number ofStudents: 1,615
Total Number ofParticipating Schools: 53
TotalExpenditures: $13,697,550

D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program

2011-12 School Year Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 1,615
Schools Participating: 53
2011 Expenditures: $13,697,550

Growth in Student Participation

2012Outlook

While theprogram has been authorized for $20 million over five years, the program needsto get appropriated for each year.

-American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Parent Empowerment at Work in the Grand Canyon State

2012-02-14T11:31:00.002-05:00

Here at School Choice Now!, we have a singular goal of kids being in the best school possible—whether that school is a private school,a charter school, or a traditional public school. Parents, especially those from low-income families, should be empowered to choose whatschool they think will best prepare their child for a successful life.

And research shows that parents are very satisfied when theyget to choose where their children should go: just look at Louisiana, wherefour consecutive surveys on the voucher program show parental satisfaction ratesof over 90 percent, and at Florida, where 95.4 percent of parents participating inthe Florida Tax Credit Scholarship rated their schools as “excellent” or“good.”

But it's not just the numbers that speak to the value of school choice. The stories do, too.

One recent story, from a reporter writing for Arizona's East Valley Tribune, tells of how she exercised her educational options not in her role as a reporter, butas a mother:

Earlier this month, Idid something I've said I was going to do for a long time: I took a tour of acharter school as a PARENT, not as a reporter.

Why? Let's just sayI'm an over thinker. My kids are doing great at their school - our neighborhooddistrict school. But I keep hearing and talking to people about this charterschool and I wanted to go in with a different set of eyes.

Michelle Reese, the reporter and mother of three, is happywith her traditional neighborhood school, but wanted to take a look around. And, living in Arizona, Reese has lots of options.

Arizona has public school choice, private school choice (withthree scholarship tax credit programs and one education savings accountprogram), charter schools, and homeschooling options.

In Reese’s ZIP code alone, there are 85 different elementary schools: 47 public schools, 24 charter schools, and 10 privateschools.

So what did she end up doing?

I choose to send my kids to my neighborhood school. We'vebeen there for years, though each spring I do debate other options (just ask myhusband and friends who hear about it over and over). Why? Because I can.Because I want my kids to be getting the best education possible. Just lastyear, I really struggled with where to send my middle child, not because Iwasn't happy with our school, but because I knew a Spanish dual languageprogram was opening up not far from us and she wants to learn Spanish.

Because when it comes down to it, school choice is aboutensuring that all children have access to a great education that works forthem—no matter what type of school that is.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

The Fight for School Choice In New Jersey: Déjà Vu All Over Again

2012-02-13T18:47:00.000-05:00

School choicesupporters are fighting for passage of the Opportunity Scholarship Act (OSA)—aschool choice program that has bipartisan support from a bipartisan band of leadersincluding Senators Raymond Lesniakand Teresa Ruiz, Assemblymen Angel Fuentes and Lou Greenwald, Newark Mayor CoryBooker, and Governor Chris Christie.

TheOSA would allow thousands of children from low-income New Jersey families inthe state’s most disadvantaged school districts to attend the schools of theirparents’ choice. And it would be thestate’s first school choice program. Well, sort of.

Accordingto a columnby Bryan LaPlaca, on this day in 1997, New Jersey was on the forefront ofthe education reform news in a little town called Lincoln Park.

InFebruary 1997, the Board of Education in Lincoln Park created aprogram that would allow parents to send their children to the high school oftheir choice—including private schools. With a vote of 7-2, the Board overwhelmingly created and supported avoucher program in the Garden State.

LincolnPark Public Schools serve students in grades K-8. High school students living in Lincoln Parkattend Boonton Public Schools as part of a two-district agreement. The voucher program was seen as analternative for students to attend the school of their parent’s choice.

"This is a choice," Trustee Bonnie Sudol said at the time. "It is a choice forparents who are not happy with Boonton."

Duringthat year’s board elections, many of the seven who voted yes for Lincoln Park’sprogram lost and an anti-reform board voted down the program 5-4 in May 1997.

Fifteen years later, school choice advocates are back at it in 2012 with the goal of creating a scholarship tax credit program via the state legislature.

Let the story of Lincoln Park be a lesson...it's not over until it's over!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Data Snapshot: Ohio

2012-02-13T15:15:00.000-05:00

In 2011,Ohio expanded two of its voucher programs and created a new voucher program forstudents with special needs, bringing the total number of school choiceprograms to four. The Ohio budget,signed by Governor John Kasich, quadrupled the number of students that canparticipate in the EdChoice Program, increased the size of voucher scholarshipsin the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program, and created the Jon PetersonSpecial Needs Scholarship.

2011Results

Number of SchoolChoice Programs: 4
Total Number ofStudents: 23,975
Total Number ofParticipating Schools: 594
TotalExpenditures: $122,600,000

Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program

Ameans-preferenced voucher program that serves students living in the ClevelandMetropolitan School District. Expansionin 2011 brought the scholarship amounts up to $4,250 for students in grades K-8and $5,000 for students in grades 9-12.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 5,603
Schools Participating: 36
2011 Expenditures: $21,000,000

Growth in Student Participation

Autism Scholarship Program

This voucherprogram for autistic students is now one of two voucher programs in the statetailored to students with special needs.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 2,236
Schools Participating: 248
2011 Expenditures: $42,600,000

Growth in Student Participation

Educational Choice Scholarship Program

The 2011expansion to the EdChoice Program, a failing schools voucher, increases thenumber of scholarships available to 30,000 in the 2011-12 school year and60,000 in the 2012-13 school year. Inaddition, student eligibility was expanded to include a second definition of low-ratedschools.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 16,136
Schools Participating: 310
2011 Expenditures: $59,000,000

Growth in Student Participation

Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program

Createdin 2011 and named after education reform advocate and former Ohio legislatorJon Peterson, this program will allow students with special needs to attend theschool of their parents’ choice. Theprogram is slated to begin in the 2012-12 school year.

2012Outlook

Ohio willhave four active voucher program in 2012 with the Jon Peterson Special NeedsScholarship Program expected to begin in the fall.

-American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Ohio Jumps on State of the State Train

2012-02-10T17:36:00.000-05:00

Last month, wetold you what governors have been saying in their state of the stateaddresses. And we’re not done!

This week, OhioGovernor John Kasich delivered his address, and in it, school choice played a majorrole. In fact, the Governor chose to deliver his speech not at the StateCapitol, but at a high-performing elementaryschool in Steubenville, Ohio.

Here’s whatGovernor Kasich had to say about choice in education:

Educationreform. Think about this: No mom and dad should have to have their kids in aschool where they're not safe and they're not learning. It's a civil right.

This isnot an attack on the public school system or public school teachers. We have tohonor the ones that are really out there just like we see here in WellsAcademy. But, when the schools aren't working and they're underperforming, letour children go. We went in this state from 13,000 vouchers to 30,000 familieswho can have more choice and more freedom, to next year 60,000 vouchers. Idon't know that that exists anywhere in America. And it's going to give ourpoor people a chance.

Welifted the cap on the number of charter schools. And let me make it clear: ifyou're an underperforming charter school, we'll be on you. We have to haveexcellence in every school, and just because it has a name, if it's notworking, we're going to have to deal with it. I'll ask the legislature toexercise proper oversight. And let me also—you can applaud for that. I know alot of people are concerned about that.

If theschool continues to fail, parents and teachers have the power to take theschool over themselves. I want to give a big shout out to Stan Heffner. He is aman who has decided that he is committed to the fact that we need to let momsand dads know, across this state, how their kids are doing. He has published areport that ranks the schools, and that's how Wells got to be number one. He istraveling the state. We need moms and dads to know how their schools are doing.

Ourschools across the state are, frankly, consistent with the Race to the Top,where I give Arne Duncan and the President great credit for what they've donethere. We're moving Ohio forward, but we've got a long way to go.

We’re happy to see that Governor Kasich—a standoutleader in 2011 for expanding two school choice program and creating a specialneeds voucher program—is still committed to education reform.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Data Snapshot: Oklahoma

2012-02-10T15:00:00.000-05:00

Oklahomaexpanded its special needs voucher program in 2011 and created the state’sfirst scholarship tax credit program for corporate and individual donors.

2011Results

Number of SchoolChoice Programs: 2
Total Number ofStudents: 160*
Total Number ofParticipating Schools: 40*

*Dataonly available for the voucher program, as the scholarship tax credit programhas not yet begun.

Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program

Thisprogram was expanded in 2011 to require students to have an IndividualizedEducation Plan to be in effect at the time of the scholarship request. In addition, the program now waives the prioryear public school attendance for military families.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 160
Schools Participating: 40
2011 Expenditures: $1,000,000

Growth in Student Participation

Equal Opportunity Education Scholarships

Createdin 2011, this corporate and individual scholarship tax credit program allowsstudents from low-income families or children with special needs to receive ascholarship through an SGO to attend the school of their parents’ choice. The program is set to begin in the 2012-13school year

2012Outlook

Corporationsand individuals can begin donating to scholarship granting organizations tobegin the Equal Opportunity Education Scholarships.

- American Federation forChildren | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

An Old Dominion-Style Rally

2012-02-09T16:18:00.000-05:00

We told you yesterday about Democratic DelegateAlgie T. Howell, who supports bringing strong school choice programs toVirginia. And still, the news coming outof the Old Dominion State isn’t done:

More than 400 parents, students, and advocatesrallied on Tuesday at the State Capitol in Richmond in support of creating school choicefor students in low-income families. Here are some photos from the event:

Governor Bob McDonnell speaks during Tuesday’s rally
calling 2012 the year that Virginia will create a scholarship tax credit program.
Our own Kevin P. Chavous stands in the background.

Kevin P. Chavous, senior advisor at American Federation for Children
rallies the crowd on the urgency of school choice and
why Virginia families deserve real educational options.

Data Snapshot: Wisconsin

2012-02-09T15:45:00.000-05:00

TheBadger State had two victories in 2011, a major contributor to making “The Yearof School Choice” such a success. Notonly did Wisconsin expand the longest running school choice program in thenation, but it created a second voucher program modeled after its MilwaukeeProgram.

2011Results

Number of SchoolChoice Programs: 2
Total Number ofStudents: 23,426
Total Number ofParticipating Schools: 114

Milwaukee Parental Choice Program

Thenation’s longest running voucher program, this program began in 1990! It’s been expanded and strengthened over theyears—and 2011 was no different. In thebiennial budget, signed by Governor Scott Walker, the Milwaukee Parental ChoiceProgram was expanded by

Removing the cap on the number of student participants
Permitting schools across the state to accept program participants
Expanding the program to benefit children from middle-class families
Ensuring that participating families can remain in the program regardless of future income growth

2011-12 School Year Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 23,198
Schools Participating: 106
2011 Expenditures: $144,300,800

Growth in Student Participation

Racine Parental Choice Program

Wisconsin’snewly created voucher program, the Racine Parental Choice Program is modeledoff the highly successful Milwaukee Program. This program allows students living in the Racine Unified SchoolDistrict to attend the school of their parents’ choice.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 228
Schools Participating: 8
2011 Expenditures: $1,546,100

Growth in Student Participation

2012Outlook

Wisconsinis still fighting to create even more options for students. In 2012, we can expect to see movement on aspecial needs voucher program and voucher expansion to Green Bay.

-American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Howell Heads Up Strong Support for School Choice in Virginia

2012-02-08T16:00:00.000-05:00

Virginia Delegate Algie Howell has been serving in the House ofDelegates since 2004, but he’s been a supporter of educational options forVirginia’s families for much, much longer. And it's because Howell has been able to overcome educational inequalities in his own lifethat he wants to make sure that students from low-income families get a choice intheir own educational environment. Says the Democratic member:

It's about "parental choice," empowering parents to makethe best decisions for their children. Every parent wants the best for theirchild, especially when it comes to education. [School choice] helps parents doexactly that.

Representing parts of Chesapeake, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach, Howell is a former public school teacher and school boardmember, and a cosponsor of House Bill321, which would create a corporate scholarship tax credit for students fromlow-income families to attend the school of their parents’ choice.

Why does Howell support the idea of being able to chooseyour own school? Because when he wasin high school, he couldn’t:

I wanted desperately to go to Holland High School. I was smartenough, I was ready and I knew it would provide the best opportunity for thekind of life I dreamed about.

But back then, like every other black child I knew, I was assignedby the school system to local "colored" schools, and high school wasno different. I am a proud graduate of Nansemond County Training School, butsometimes I wonder what might have been had I been allowed to attend thebetter-equipped "white school."

Now, in his work as an elected official, Howell is committed to making sure that all children have access to a great education.

His firsthand experience has taught him too much about the sad results of what happens when students are lost in a system that doesn't work for them. Says Howell:

As a former high school teacher and School Board member, I knowpersonally that many students simply do not thrive in a "one size fitsall" setting. Too many students do not reach their full potential becausethe school they are assigned to is simply not a good fit. They may need adifferent educational setting, smaller classes or a different curriculum. Theyneed a new opportunity, and they cannot get it without the kind of help [thisbill] will provide.

Just yesterday, hundreds of committed advocates like Howell joined at the Virginia State Capitol to rally in favor of House Bill 321 and bringing school choice to the Old Dominion State. Read more about their efforts here.

We'll be sure to keep you updated on the progress the legislation makes, thanks in large part to the hard work of Howell and his colleagues (including DelegateJimmie Massie!).

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Data Snapshot: Florida

2012-02-07T15:30:00.000-05:00

Floridaexpanded both its private school choice programs in 2011, continuing its trendof being the leader on education reform. The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship to allow companies to redirect 100percent of their tax liabilities to Student Funding Organizations. In addition, insurance companies cancontribute up to 100 percent of their insurance premium liability. Student eligibility was expanded under theJohn M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program to includestudents who have an accommodation plan under the federal Rehabilitation Act.

And withthese changes come the results:

2011Results

Number of SchoolChoice Programs: 2
Total Number ofStudents: 60,859
Total Number ofParticipating Schools: 2230
TotalExpenditures: $323,849,829

John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program

Thenation’s longest running special needs voucher program that began with twostudents in 1999 and has grown to more than 22,000 participating students thisyear.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 22,861
Schools Participating: 1,050
2011 Expenditures: $148,849,829

Growth in Student Participation

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship

This taxcredit scholarship program is the most accountable scholarship tax creditprogram in the nation, meeting 10 of 10 accountability standards! And thisprogram is growing each year, both in terms of student enrollment and thestatewide cap on how much corporations can donate. Now that’sgetting in the business of education reform!

2011-12 School Year Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 37,998
Schools Participating: 1,180
SFOs Operating: 1
2011 Expenditures: $175,000,000

Growth in Student Participation

2012Outlook

The SunshineState’s scholarship tax credit statewide cap on donations will increase to$218,700,000—a good thing since donors reached the cap of $175,000,000 thisyear. In addition, the legislature isconsidering some adjustments to the program that will allow more businesses todonate more of their tax liability.

-American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Data Snapshot: North Carolina

2012-02-06T16:00:00.000-05:00

In 2011, North Carolina created its first privateschool choice option for families living in the Tar Heel State with thecreation of the Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities. An Individual Tuition Tax Credit ofsignificant size, this option will allow parents of special needs students toreceive a state income tax credit of up to $6,000 for educational expenses,including private school tuition.

2011 Results

Number of School Choice Programs: 1

Tax Credits for Children with Disabilities

An individual tuition tax credit for children withdisabilities created in 2011.

2012 Outlook

North Carolina is looking to create even moreschool choice options in 2012 for students with special needs and children fromlow-income families. With bipartisansupport, we should expect to see some real educational options in the Tar HeelState.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance forSchool Choice, MSG

Juan Williams on Parental Choice in the Windy City

2012-02-03T12:31:00.003-05:00

We told you before that Juan Williams—one of the nation’s leading journalists, commentators, and political analysts—will deliver an address on school choice at the American Federation for Children’s third annual National Policy Summit (Register at www.afcpolicysummit.com) in May, but Williams is already touting the importance of parental options three months (to the day!) before the Summit begins.

In conjunction with the Education Action Group Foundation, Williams created a short movie, entitled "A Tale of Two Missions," on parental choice in Chicago. It focused on two important topics: what elected officials are doing to improve Chicago’s schools and what others are doing to prevent meaningful reform.

In what is something of a preview for what you'll hear at our Summit, Williams stresses the importance of school vouchers, charter schools, and empowering parents. Though it's not home to a private school choice program, the Land of Lincoln has strong charter schools in the Windy City, a fact that Williams found out firsthand when he visited Noble Charter Network—a place home to a 99 percent graduation rate.

The school is so focused on the success of its students that it has what's called "Alumni Hall." Principal Bill Olsen takes Williams down the hallway, which is dedicated to graduates by displaying the school banners where they've gone to further their education.

Watch the video below:

But "A Tale of Two Missions" is more than just a profile of charters; it’s really about the broad importance of school choice and empowering parents. Williams speaks in the video with Chicago Mayor Rahm Emmanuel, who, as we've discussed before, sends his own children to private school.

“The solution is parental choice,” Williams says. “When parents are given the power to choose, schools are given the incentive to compete.”

After watching the video, you'll want to hear even more from Williams. You can do so by attending our National Policy Summit, which will be held at the Westin Jersey City Newport Hotel in Jersey City on Thursday, May 3, and Friday, May 4, 2012. The summit will feature the nation’s leading public policy-makers, analysts, advocates, and reformers. It's open to the public via registration at www.afcpolicysmmit.com.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Data Snapshot: Arizona

2012-02-02T16:30:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the hard work of Arizona’s electedofficials and tireless advocates, Arizona is now one to two states that canboast FOUR school choice programs. Andit’s home to the nation’s first and only Education Savings Account Program!

2011 Results

Number of School Choice Programs: 4
Total Number of Students: 30,178
Total Number of Participating Schools: 2,600
Total Expenditures: $58,362,748

Individual School Tuition Organization Tax Credit

An individual scholarship tax credit created in1997.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 25,343
Schools Participating: 911
STOs Operating: 49
2011 Expenditures: $47,105,564

Growth in Student Participation

Corporate School Tuition Organization Tax Credit

Enacted in 2006, this scholarship tax creditprogram provides tax credits to businesses that donate money for scholarships.

2011-12 SchoolYear Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 4,578
Schools Participating: 342
STOs Operating: 17
2011 Expenditures: $9,189,905

Growth inStudent Participation

Lexie’s Law

A corporate scholarship tax credit program forstudents with disabilities and foster care children. This program was originally a voucher programand transitioned into a scholarship tax credit program in 2009.

2011-12 SchoolYear Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 115
Schools Participating: 47
STOs Operating: 5
2011 Expenditures: $561,029

Growth in Student Participation

ArizonaEmpowerment Scholarship Accounts Program

A NEW type of schoolchoice program created in 2011, this program allows parents of children withspecial needs to receive an account where parents can spend their child’seducation dollars on a variety of options including tuition, books, tutoring,and educational therapies. In January, aMaricopa County Superior Court judge upheld theprogram, letting hundreds of families remain in the program.

2011-12 SchoolYear Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 142
2011 Expenditures: $1,506,250

Growth in Student Participation

2012 Outlook

Arizona is looking to strengthen and expand itsexisting scholarship tax credit programs and to continue to protect the Arizona Empowerment Scholarship AccountsProgram as special interests continue to attempt to disband the program.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance forSchool Choice, MSG

Data Snapshot: Utah

2012-02-01T16:35:00.002-05:00

Utahstrengthened its special needs voucher program by increasing funding, allowingmore children with special needs to access the program. Enacted in 2005, the Carson Smith SpecialNeeds Scholarship enables students identified as disabled and who have anIndividualized Education Program to access a scholarship to attend the privateschool of their parents’ choice.

2011Results

Number of SchoolChoice Programs: 1
Total Number ofStudents: 635
Total Number ofParticipating Schools: 40
TotalExpenditures: $3,734,000

StudentParticipation

2012Outlook

TheBeehive State is ready to accept more students with the increased funding ofmore than half a million dollars annually. And that’s not all, Senator Adams is looking to expand funding to alloweven more students to access the program!

-American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Data Snapshot: Georgia

2012-01-31T15:00:00.000-05:00

The PeachState strengthened and expanded its scholarship tax credit program, whichprovides scholarships for more than 8,000 students. The bipartisan legislation allows studentsentering first grade to participate in the program, increases the program’stransparency and accountability, and expands the time that donors can makecontributions. Speaking ofcontributions, the program also reached an historic landmark in 2011. For the first time in the program’s four-yearhistory, donations from individuals and businesses reached the statewide cap of$50 million!

Inaddition, Georgia has a special needs scholarship program that helps almost3,000 students attend the school of their parents’ choice.

2011Results

Number of School Choice Programs: 2
Total Number of Students: 11,096
Total Number of Participating Schools: 204*
Total Expenditures: $66,219,797

*Dataonly available for Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program

GeorgiaSpecial Needs Scholarship Program

A voucherprogram that grants scholarships to special needs students to attend theprivate school of their parents’ choice.

2011-12School Year Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 2,965
Schools Participating: 204
2011 Expenditures: $16,219,797

Growth in Student Participation

GeorgiaScholarship Tax Credit Program

Enactedin 2008, this scholarship tax credit program provides tax credits toindividuals and businesses that donate money for scholarships. The program reached the statewide cap of $50million in donations in 2011. Theprogram was expanded to allow students entering first grade to participate,increase accountability standards, and expand the donation window.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

Scholarships Awarded: 8,131
Schools Participating: Not Available
SSOs Operating: 39
2011 Expenditures: $50,000,000

Growth in Student Participation

2012Outlook

Georgia has big plans in 2012. The legislature is working to amend the stateconstitution after the state Supreme Court ruled against the Georgia CharterSchools Commission, essentially closing the state’s charter schools thatprovide choice to thousands of Peach State families. In the private school choice world,legislators are introducing a new statewide voucher program for low- andmiddle-income students, as well as continuing to strengthen and expand its twoexisting school choice programs.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Data Snapshot: Indiana

2012-01-30T18:25:00.003-05:00

With the release of theAlliance for School Choice's School Choice Yearbook 2011-12 (available fordownload here), we'll spend the next few days on School Choice Now!highlighting some of the new data and research it contains. Last week we toldyou what was happeningin the Bayou State, and today we have the datasnapshot of school choice in Indiana.

The Hoosier State had a GREAT year in schoolchoice, expanding its scholarship tax credit program and creating the nation’s broadestvoucher program. Take a look

2011 Results

Number of SchoolChoice Programs: 2
Total Number ofStudents: 4,509
Total Number ofParticipating Schools: 241*
Total Expenditures: $814,106*

*Data not available for both programs

Choice Scholarship Program

A means-test voucher program that grantsscholarships to students from low- and middle-income families to attend theprivate school of their parents’ choice. This program was enacted in 2011 and had the most participants in itsfirst year than any other program.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

· Scholarships Awarded: 3,919
· Schools Participating: 241
· 2011 Expenditures: Not Available

q Growth in Student Participation

Corporate and Individual Scholarship TaxCredit Program

Enacted in 2009, this scholarship tax creditprogram provides tax credits to individuals and businesses that donate moneyfor scholarships.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

· Scholarships Awarded: 590
· Schools Participating: Not Available
· 2011 Expenditures: $814,106

f Growth in Student Participation

2012 Outlook

The Choice Scholarship Program’s student enrollment cap isincreased to allow 15,000 students in the 2012-13 school year, allowing evenmore students to access the school of their parents’ choice.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Data Snapshot: Louisiana

2012-01-27T16:00:00.004-05:00

With the release of the Alliance for School Choice's School Choice Yearbook 2011-12 (available for download here), we'll spend the next few days on School Choice Now! highlighting some of the new data and research it contains. The first in that series is a data snapshot of school choice in Louisiana.

Here are the new numbers in the Bayou State:

2011 Results

Number of School Choice Programs: 2
Total Number of Students: 2,034
Total Number of Participating Schools: 51
Total Expenditures: $9,389,444

Student Scholarshipsfor Educational Excellence Program

Both a means-test and failing schools voucher, this programgrants scholarships to students living in Orleans Parish to attend the private school of their choice.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

· Scholarships Awarded: 1,848

· Schools Participating: 29

· 2011 Expenditures: $8,988,817

Growth in Student Participation

School Choice PilotProgram for Certain Students with Exceptionalities

Enacted in 2010, this voucher program designed for studentswith special needs granted scholarships to 186students the 2011-12 school year.

2012 Outlook

Governor Jindal announced his education reform package thisyear that includes expansion of the Student Scholarships for EducationalExcellence Program statewide to students from low-income families that attendfailing schools.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Washington, D.C. Celebrates School Choice Week!

2012-01-26T16:11:00.000-05:00

What an important week for school choice! Seven days dedicated to promoting the successes - and outlining the goals of - the school choice movement across the country. Our team at AFC partnered with the Institute for Justice and the Fordham Institute to host “School Choice Now: The Results of 2011, the Promise of 2012.”

The event featured AFC founding board member Kevin P. Chavous, who provided an overview of how education reform is taking place across the country. Kevin also reminded guests that school choice provides opportunity to all children – regardless of their zip-code; an important fact to remember as we continue to fight for education reform across the country.

D.C. Parent Shelia Jackson

We also welcomed two very special parents whose children participate in the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. Mothers Patricia William and Shelia Jackson both provided a quick overview of the affects that a quality education had over their children’s life. Both women spoke to the gain in confidence their children experienced and the excitement they now have for going to college and excelling in their education. What a great way to celebrate the week – by hearing from the parents!

Finally, AFC National Communications Director Malcom Glenn gave a presentation that outlined many of the facts in the 2011-2012 National School Choice Yearbook. The event served as the official release of the Yearbook and the crowd was the first to see the new figures. The data and information in the Yearbook is perhaps the most comprehensive overview of the programs offered across the country. The Yearbook can be downloaded here.

National School Choice Week was a great reason to bring together school choice allies and we’re so proud of the continued achievements of programs like the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. Today reminded us of why we’re so invested in this fight – it provides more families with the opportunity to see their children succeed!

You're Invited! "The Results of 2011, The Promise of 2012" - Thursday, Jan. 26, 1 p.m.

2012-01-24T19:08:00.002-05:00

On behalf of the Alliance for School Choice, we here at School Choice Now! want to make sure you're aware of a free event we're hosting this Thursday, January 26 at 1 p.m. in Washington, D.C.

In conjunction with National School Choice Week, we're excited to let you know that we'll be unveiling our School Choice Yearbook 2011-12, the sixth edition of our award-winning publication, at an event titled "The Result of 2011, The Promise of 2012," cohosted by the Fordham Institute and the Institute for Justice. In addition to the first look at cutting-edge data from our new Yearbook, you'll hear from families who have benefited from the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program here in Washington. The details are below:

The event is free and open to the public, and lunch will be provided! Those interested in attending are encouraged to RSVP at www.SchoolChoice2012.com. We hope you'll be able to make it, and we encourage you to tell your friends to join us as well. Click here to read the press release we sent out about the event last week -- and feel free to send that along to your friends, too. Let us know in the comments if you have any questions, and we hope to see you Thursday!

- American Federation | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Governors Feature Education Reform in State of the State Addresses

2012-01-17T10:22:00.000-05:00

Tis the season! And by season we mean it’s that time of year when governors from across the country present their State of the State addresses. Year after year, these remarks always include the obligatory statements on what improvements should be made, how certain policies have been enacted, and of course, the goals for the next twelve months.

This year, however, we’ve noticed something new creeping into the rhetoric of our nation’s executive leaders: an education reform plan. That’s right – so far sixteen governors have presented their outline for 2012 – and we’re pleased with what they have to say!

All across the country – from Arizona to Indiana – the sparks created for school choice in 2011 have created a fire in our national leaders. And they’re not afraid to take bold steps in the fight to reform America’s education system by providing more choice to parents and more opportunities to students.

Here are a few highlights from some of the recent State of the State addresses:

“Our state is a leader in allowing parents to choose a school that best meets their children’s needs.” – Arizona Governor Jan Brewer

“If we continue to create a culture of excellence in our schools, Florida will merit a full chapter in that history that describes the reawakening of a mighty, prosperous nation. We can do this. And, we begin to do this by building on the successes of last session when we increased school choices for Florida’s parents.” – Florida Governor Rick Scott

“To spur innovation, I am recommending $8.7 million in supplemental grants in both the Amended budget and next year’s budget for state chartered special schools affected by the Georgia Supreme Court ruling on charter schools. These schools are key to Georgia’s educational success.” – Georgia Governor Nathan Deal

“…Others are following Indiana. It’s our new commitment to rewarding the best teachers, liberating principals and superintendents, and providing low- and middle-income parents the same choices as their wealthier neighbors; and that’s what has caught the world’s attention.” – Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels

"In America, you do not have a right to have everything your neighbor has, you do not have a right to a big house or a fancy car and you do not have a right to redistribute your neighbor's wealth. But I would suggest that we long ago decided that every kid does have a right to a quality education from an excellent teacher. And by getting a good education, kids then do have the opportunity to pursue their dreams." – Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal

We are so pleased to see these school choice champions stand in front of their state leadership and declare that 2012 will be another successful year for families. Understanding that these Governors have a lot of priorities, we hope you’ll join us in giving them praise for giving education reform a platform in their 2012 State of the State addresses.

Stay tuned for more updates on State of the State addresses from other governors.

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day from the American Federation for Children

2012-01-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

MartinLuther King, Jr.

January 15, 1929 – April 4, 1968

“The function of education is to teachone to think intensively and to think critically…intelligence pluscharacter—that is the goal of true education.”

As we celebrate the life of one of the greatest Americans, wemust also take time to appreciate Dr. King’s dedication to helping the neediestin our society, his commitment to ensuring equal opportunities for all, and hisrecognition that “…education is the road to equality and citizenship…”

On this, the holiday marking the 83rd anniversary of hisbirth, the American Federation for Children honors Dr. King and all who havefollowed in his footsteps in working for justice and for making the world abetter place for all men, women, and children.

Betsy DeVos & Kevin P. Chavous

Chairman Senior Advisor

An Arizona Scholarship Student Lets Legislators See Why School Choice Is So Important

2012-01-13T14:52:00.000-05:00

Max Ashton, a sophomore at BrophyCollege Preparatory in Phoenix, testified yesterday before members of the Arizona SenateFinance Committee, explaining to legislators how the state saved thousands of dollars thanks to him receiving a scholarship through the CorporateSchool Tuition Organization Tax Credit Program.

Ashton, who is blind, told senators about some of his amazing accomplishments, most of which wouldn't have been possible had it not for the opportunities he had at Brophy Prep.

The testemony was presented during the Senate Finance Committee hearingon a series of Senate Bills (most importantly, SB 1047) that would amend the state's three scholarship tax creditprograms to allow for increased maximum donation amounts to SchoolTuition Organizations.

Click below to watch moving and inspiring testimony from a youngman who attributes his remarkable success to private school choice.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, NM

Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program One Step Closer to Helping Families in the Buckeye State

2012-01-12T13:43:00.002-05:00

The Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program is onestep closer to helping thousands of families across the Buckeye State this weekthanks to the State Board of Education, which just approved rules for theprogram.

The fourth voucher program in the state and Ohio’s secondprogram specifically tailored to students with special needs, the Jon PetersonSpecial Needs Scholarship Program was created in 2011 has a part of the Ohiobudget that also expanded the highly popular Educational Choice ScholarshipProgram and the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program.

The program, named after former state legislator JonPeterson, a champion of education reform and special education services, is slatedto begin in the 2012-13 school year.

But first, parents, advocates, and the state have to knowhow the program will work. And thatinformation is becoming clearer with this week’s actions from the State Boardof Education.

The Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) mustapprove the program rules before the scholarship program can begin.

But rules and regulations don’t show why special needsschool choice programs are important. The stories of families whose lives have changed because of the programdo.

J.J’s Story:

Pamand Larry Wells of Kinsman, OH have been raising their grandson Jeffrey, knownas J.J., since he was a baby. At agetwo, J.J. was diagnosed with autism. ThenPam heard about Ohio’s Autism Scholarship Program.

“Wefeel like new parents again,” said Pam. “It’s been a blessing to have this scholarship. Larry and I would not know what to do[without it].”

Pamand Larry drive 100 miles every day to bring J.J. to and from school where hereceives speech therapy and occupational therapy.

Inthe three years that J.J. has attended the Rich Center, he has made significantimprovements.

“Ican sum it up in one thing,” said Pam. “J.J. would never make eye contact; hedidn’t wave bye bye; but now, he’s fine and uses sign language. He tells us please, thank you, more, alldone, and can sign his name.”

And soon more families that are watching their sons anddaughters with special needs struggle in public school can access a scholarshipand get the educational opportunities they need under the new program.

The Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program isdesigned for special needs students to receive a voucher to attend the publicor private school of their parents’ choice. Students must be identified as having a disability, have anIndividualized Education Plan (IEP), and be eligible to attend publicschool. Students can receive up to$20,000 in scholarship money to attend private school.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

State of the State: In Arizona, New Year Brings Renewed Commitment to School Choice

2012-01-11T17:25:00.003-05:00

Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer delivered a 2012
State of the State address focused on school choice.

Arizona Governor Jan Brewer, a longtime supporter of school choice, this week told members of the state legislature that in 2012, the Grand Canyon State is poised to continue to be a leader in allowing parents to choose the school that best meets their child’s needs.

“We must find a way to fund the results we want and reward those educators who guide us into our next century,” Brewer said at her annual State of the State address on Monday. “That’s my commitment to children for the next century; quality teachers, safe environment, a setting of parents’ choosing, and data driven decisions and the highest of standards.”

The Governor also unveiled a broad-based education reform plan, one that called for investments to be made in schools and support given to teachers who delivering quality results for kids. The educational setting, she said, does not matter.

Brewer's speech also touched on providing adequate funding to reforms that work, saying that tough economic times call for making sure that taxpayer dollars aren't being poured haphazardly into a system that has failed to show significant improvements.

Immediately following the State of the State address, legislators got to work on a new school choice plan: Senate Bill 1047. The bill would amend the state's three scholarship tax credit programs to allow for an increase in the maximum allowable donations to School Tuition Organizations.

The intent, according to legislators, is to help alleviate the frequently long waiting lists for scholarships.

Check back in the coming days for more on State of the State addresses from around the country.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, NM

Announcing Juan Williams as a Speaker at AFC's 2012 National Policy Summit

2012-01-10T18:23:00.003-05:00

Juan Williams, a leading political journalist, will
speak at AFC's 2012 National Policy Summit in NJ.

BIG news about our upcoming National Policy Summit 2012: Breakthrough Victories for Children (for which you can register at www.afcpolicysummit.com)! We're pleased to announce that renowned journalist Juan Williams will be a featured speaker at the event, scheduled for Thursday, May 3 and Friday, May 4, 2012 at the Westin Jersey City Newport.

All the full Summit details can be found on our registration page, but read all the details about Williams below:

Juan Williams—one of the nation’s leading journalists, commentators, and political analysts—will deliver an address on school choice at the American Federation for Children’s third annual National Policy Summit, held on May 3 and 4 in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Williams will give a keynote speech on the importance of educational options, which he has called the “civil rights issue of our time,” at the third annual summit hosted by the American Federation for Children—the nation’s voice for school choice.

The summit, titled School Choice Now: Breakthrough Victories for Children, will bring together the nation’s premiere policy experts, advocates, and champions of school choice.

Williams is the author of six books, a renowned writer and journalist, and currently serves as a political commentator for Fox News. He previously hosted “Talk of the Nation” and “America’s Black Forum” on National Public Radio and worked as a political columnist, editorial writer, and White House correspondent for more than 20 years at The Washington Post.

Read the full release here. Find out more about last year's Summit here, and be sure to keep your eyes here for all the latest info on additional speakers, guests, and agenda items!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

In Idaho, The Numbers Don't Lie

2012-01-05T18:35:00.003-05:00

While the polls on most people's minds right now have more to do with New Hampshire and South Carolina than anything else, we here at School Choice Now! won't be distracted by any presidential primary polls!

What does have our interest, however, is a set of new numbers from our friends at the Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice. They just released a survey showing overwhelming support for school choice in another state that lacks any private choice programs. This time, it's the citizens of Idaho who are aiming to make their voices heard.

According to the report, which you can read more about here, over 2,000 interviews late last year show that more than 60 percent of Idaho voters favor the creation of a scholarship tax credit program in the state. In addition, nearly 70 percent of survey respondents support charter schools, with the number who "strongly favor" them at more than four times the number who voiced strong opposition.

But that's not all. Take a look at this excerpt from the Friedman Foundation's press release today:

Many Idahoans do not know how much tax money is spent on public education in their state. Nearly one out of three voters dramatically underestimate per-student funding in public schools.

[...]

Nearly half (49 percent) of Idahoans are unfamiliar with virtual schools and almost as many (43 percent) would be willing to enroll their child in such a program.

These facts reveal that there's perhaps even more support to be had in Idaho, as our allies work to educate residents on the benefits of school choice.

It makes clear the importance of spreading the word far and wide, showing people the positive data that comes about as a result of school choice programs, and letting them know that they have a say in the educational futures of the children in their state.

Looking for ways to get more involved? Send a message to your legislator telling them that, like the good people of Idaho, you're tired of waiting for systemwide change that's been promised for years. We can't afford to wait, and neither can our kids.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School, MAG

Rose Remains in National Spotlight for Reform Work

2012-01-04T18:38:00.001-05:00

Image courtesy Terry Shoffner of the Wall Street Journal.

Back in June, we told you about the great work of former NBA star Jalen Rose, who was then preparing to open a charter school in his hometown of Detroit.

Fast forward seven months, and not only has Rose continued his strong work in the education reform movement, but he's getting some deserved national attention for his contributions to the fortunes of low-income kids.

Last week the Wall Street Journal sat down with Rose to discuss his recent education work, which has centered on the principal that parents should be able to choose the best educational options for their children.

Says the Journal:

He also wants to influence parents—empowering them to demand better schools for their kids. The rigid system of school boards telling families where their kids have to go to school perpetuates poverty and a sense of entrapment, he says: "Forty-seven percent of Detroit area parents are functionally illiterate. So that puts their kids at a real handicap. Say my mom is one of those 47%. That doesn't mean that I shouldn't have a fair opportunity for a quality public education. But since my mom is functionally illiterate and we grew up on the west side of Detroit, I'm forced to go to this school that has been a poor-performing school for 30 years."

"There should be parental choice," he says clearly. "Schools should be open. If it's a public education, and the school in your district is poor-performing, you should be able to put your student or kid wherever you want."

Choice could be relatively easily implemented, he says. "I'm a taxpaying citizen, right? So if I'm paying $4,000 worth of taxes and I don't want my kid to go to this school, why can't they give me my $4,000 and allow me to pick where I want to put my kids?"

Consistent readers of this blog already know about the contributions Rose has made to reforming Detroit's schools, but what may be less-well known are Rose's motivations behind his passionate pursuit of educational equality.

Despite making millions as a famous athlete, Rose never lost touch with his humble beginnings—a set of circumstances that have driven him for well over two decades to earn the resources to be able to make real change in his own family's life, as well as the lives of so many like them.

According to his WSJ interview, much of that desire to empower families through education stems from what was missing in his own home.

Says Rose:

The youngest of four kids, Mr. Rose was raised by his mother and never knew his biological father, former NBA player Jimmy Walker. ("The only time we were in the same place at the same time was in 2007 at his funeral," he notes with obvious regret.) He was driven to pursue of his dream of playing in the NBA, he says, "to try to help take my family out of the financial situation we were in."

The Journal story also discusses recent on-court related matters, including some incendiary comments Rose made about rival Duke star Grant Hill and his following apology. Not only have the players reconciled, but Hill has even to pledged to pay a visit to Rose's school in the upcoming months.

The reality of Rose's post-playing pursuits is that they can serve a multi-faceted purpose; not only is he well-positioned to help low-income kids and families, but he's becoming a role model for another demographic group in need of some direction: former athletes.

While so many former athletes grapple with financial problems once their playing days end, Rose is instead giving back. He says it has helped him adjust to life after the game—an adjustment period faced by all former athletes.

Perhaps if they have their sights set on helping others long before their careers are over, they'll also be in a better position to help themselves, Rose says:

At the end of our interview, Mr. Rose says that most former athletes have voids in their lives after they leave center stage. They often can't find a new mission in life. But he has the Leadership Academy: "I just really felt I had to help the community I came from. I know how hard it is to make it out of here."

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Georgia Advocates Helpings Kids Towards "Making the Grade"

2012-01-03T17:11:00.000-05:00

Documentaries about our education system and much-needed education reforms have been all the rage over the past few years. With Waiting for "Superman" in 2010 and The Experiment, which profiles the New Orleans school system post-Hurricane Katrina, in 2011, these films inform and inspire people to get involved in fixing our schools.

And now Georgia has joined the club of filmmakers, as filmmakers in the Peach State just finished a movie that documents education reform initiatives there.

Making the Grade, a short documentary premiering in multiple Georgia locations on January 5, tells of the educational realities - as well as the options - in a state home to nearly 10,000 private school choice students.

From traditional public schools to charter schools, as well as Georgia’s two private school choice programs, Making the Grade demonstrates the realities of the state's struggling education system:

61,000 Georgia students failed to graduate in 2010—that’s enough students to fill the Georgia Dome.
Georgia ranks 46th in nation based on graduation rates.
Only three out of every 10 students is proficient in math and reading.

But leaders, parents, and advocates in Georgia also highlight the great opportunities in the state including private school choice.

Parent Heather Patton talks about how the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship has allowed her son, Jackson, to thrive in a private school that specializes in handling Jackson’s autism.

With appearances by Governor Nathan Deal, Representative Alisha Thomas Morgan (D), and many more, this film showswhat the difference school choice can make in Georgia.

Check out the Makingthe Grade website for more information about this film and locations forscreenings.

http://www.makingthegrademovie.com/

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

What's at Stake for School Choice in 2012

2011-12-29T11:39:00.002-05:00

We’renot too into new year’s resolutions here at SchoolChoice Now!, but we’re always looking forward, and we’re excited about theeducation reform prospects in 2012. Withthe breakthrough year that was 2011, which included seven new and 11 expandedprivate school choice programs, we’re working hard to make sure that in 2012, wecan keep the momentum going.

Everystate has the chance to create a publicly-funded private school choice program,but here are the states to watch in 2012:

New Jersey: With the support of Governor Chris Christie and championed by Senator Thomas Kean, Jr. (R) and Assemblyman Angel Fuentes (D), the Opportunity Scholarship Act (OSA) would create a five-year corporate tax credit scholarship program allowing low-income children stuck in failing schools to attend the school of their parents’ choice. The post-election legislative session ends on January 9, but neither legislative chamber has voted on the OSA. If the legislature doesn’t take up the bill in the lame duck session, we’re committed to making sure that the bill is a priority in the 2012-13 legislative session. Take a look at a video below that capture's just what's at stake in New Jersey:

Pennsylvania: The Keystone State had a year of highs and lows in terms of educational choice. But 2012 is another shot at creating real educational reform. Senate Bill 1, which passed the Senate—but was not taken up in the House—created a statewide voucher program for children in the bottom five percent of Pennsylvania schools and increase funding for the state’s popular Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) program. The governor supports the bill and with bipartisan support in the legislature, it’s time the two chambers work to get a bill passed.
North Carolina: With a great first step accomplished in 2011 (the state created an individual tuition tax credit for parents of students with special needs), the state is looking to create more educational options with equal opportunity scholarships via a corporate scholarship tax credit program.

New Mexico: In 2012, New Mexico is poised to create one—maybe two—school choice programs. With strong Democratic sponsors, an education reform-oriented governor, and public support (77 percent of New Mexico voters support a scholarship tax credit program for special needs students and 62 percent of registered voters favor a similar program for low- and middle-income students), New Mexico could be the next breakout state in education reform.

Virginia: Legislators in the Dominion State are looking to create a corporate scholarship tax credit program. Last week, we told you about Delegate Jimmie Massie, who is championed the legislation last year and is likely to lead the charge in 2012.

But new programs won’t be theonly story in 2012.

Expanded Programs:We’re looking to Louisiana to expand both of their voucher programs. The Student Scholarships for EducationalExcellence Program, which currently serves students living in New OrleansParish, could be expanded to Jefferson Parish or even statewide. In addition, advocates are working to takethe pilot out of the School Choice Pilot Program for Certain Students withExceptionalities.

Reaching Caps:The cap on student enrollments expands this year in two programs:

Wisconsin’sRacine Parental Choice Program doubles to 500 students in the 2012-13 schoolyear.

Indiana’s ChoiceScholarship Program (which had the highest enrollment ever in a first-yearprogram) will allow up to 15,000 students to participate in the program.

NewPrograms Start Serving Students:

TheJon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program, which serves studentsidentified as having a disability in the Buckeye State, is slated to begin in2012. The program offers scholarships ofup to $20,000 for special needs students to attend the school of their parents’choice. The program could serve as manyas 12,000 students.

Oklahoma’sEqual Opportunity Scholarships, which provides low- and middle-income studentswith scholarships, to set to begin as individuals and corporations donate toscholarship-granting organizations.

Beyondprivate school choice, we’re hoping to see more states remove barriers oncharter schools, enact parent-trigger legislation, and create education savingsaccounts.

Keepan eye on School Choice Now!, as wellas our website and that of the Alliance for School Choice, for all the 2012developments as the year progresses.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

The Top 10 Moments of 2011: A School Choice Retrospective

2011-12-28T15:27:00.001-05:00

As the year comes to a close and we look toward creating even more educational options in 2012, let’s take a look back at what many are calling the banner year in school choice to see the top 10 moments in 2011:

10. Program Saved: Louisiana restored funding New Orleans’ Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program. As special interests worked to defund this program, supporters that won’t stand for the status quo fought back, and demand for choice grows beyond the Big Easy. This vital program serves more than 1,600 low-income students stuck in failing schools.

9. Steps Forward: The Tar Heel State took a significant step toward empowering parents and giving educational options to students across North Carolina by enacting the Tax Credit for Children with Disabilities, which gives parents up to a $6,000 credit for sending their students to the school of their choice. The bill was supported by 65 percent of Democrats in the legislature. That’s not all; the state also removed its cap on charter schools!

8. A New Choice: Arizona began the year with three school choice programs, and in 2011, the Grand Canyon State created a brand new type of school choice program. With Empowerment Scholarships Accounts (also called education savings accounts), education dollars truly follow the child in this program designed for children with special needs.

7. Progress, Progress, Progress: The Buckeye state creating a new program and expanded two existing ones this year. Ohio created the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program named after a 2011 Champion for School Choice award recipient, quadrupled the number of Educational Choice Scholarships, and increased the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program scholarship amounts.

6. Support from the Court: The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed that scholarship tax credit programs were constitutional. Families across eight states can breathe a sigh of relief with the knowledge that their programs are safe.

5. An Oldie but a Goodie: The Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, the longest running voucher program was expanded to allow more students to participate. And the legislature created a “Once In, Always In” provision thanks to Representative Jason Fields (D), which helps families remain in the program.

4. Let’s Rally: There’s nothing more inspiring, and nothing tells our elected officials to support school choice more than seeing the students, parents, and advocates rallying for legislation that will create real change in our children’s lives. This year, school choice supporters rallied in New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and many more!

3. Hope with a Capital “H”: The reauthorization and strengthening of the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program. With Speaker John Boehner and Senator Joe Lieberman leading the charge, the program was restored and expanded. And that’s not all—more than 1,600 students enrolled private schools thanks to the program—a 60 percent increase over last year.

2. The Broadest Program: The creation of the nation’s broadest voucher program in Indiana! The Choice Scholarship Program provides scholarships to low- and middle-income students across the Hoosier State. And implementation of this program was a great success, with almost 4,000 students participating in the program’s first year.

1. You! Yes, that’s right. School choice supports have made 2011 the banner year for school choice. In rallying, calling on elected officials to act, writing letters to the editors, and working to push pass the status quo, education reform saw more supporters call for real change than ever before!
2011 certainly was a great year. With seven new programs and 11 expanded programs, we’re fired up to take on 2012 and bring even more educational options to families across the nation.

Stay tuned in 2012 as School Choice Now! brings you updated information on our 27 school choice programs and legislation introduced in state legislatures across the nation.

Happy New Year!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

On the Cusp of a New Tide, a Look Back at 2011's School Choice Champions

2011-12-22T12:53:00.002-05:00

Did you know that the American Federation for Children names a “Champion for School Choice” in each of our Turning the Tide monthly newsletters?

It's true! It's an award we give to someone who is committed to putting kids first, to fighting for educational options, and never letting the status quo be good enough for families. Over the past year, we've identified a bipartisan (and even some non-political) crop of some of the most staunch school choice supporters across the country. They come from everywhere, and have worked in all parts of state and federal government -- or, in one case, on the hardwood!

So, exactly who was it who received the title this year?

Eleven leaders from across the nation and from all walks of life were recognized for their commitment to providing educational options to low-income children. From Indiana to Pennsylvania -- and even our nation’s capital -- we once again applaud these leaders for putting kids first. You can read each one of our past newsletters, from both 2010 and 2011, by clicking here, and you can check out this year's winners below.

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels

Governor Mitch Daniels signed legislation that established the broadest voucher program in the nation for low- and middle-income families helping almost 4,000 students attend the school of their parents’ choice. The Indiana Governor faced a tough year when some lawmakers left the state to boycott the legislative process; but the Governor did not give up on kids. In the name of compromise, Governor Daniels tabled some controversial bills—but not House Bill 1003, which established the Choice Scholarship Program. Why was Governor Daniels named a Champion of School Choice?

For his outstanding support of educational opportunity, his willingness to work with both sides to find common ground, and—most importantly—his unwavering commitment to putting kids first.

Pennsylvania State Senator Anthony H. Williams

State Senator Anthony H. Williams has made clear in the opening days of 2011 that school choice would play a prominent role in the Pennsylvania legislative session. Williams has fought for expanding educational options for over a decade and cosponsored legislation that create a sweeping school voucher program in the Keystone State. While the bill did not become law this legislative session, Pennsylvania State Senator Anthony H. Williams was named a Champion of School Choice for his ability to see past partisan politics, his tireless commitment to the school choice movement, and his prioritizing the interests of kids over special interests. And we’re sure he will be up for the fight in 2012 too!

Former NBA Star Jalen Rose

Jalen Rose, a former basketball star, is devoting his heart to something else entirely: education reform. Rose is opening a charter school in his hometown of Detroit. Aimed at helping low-income kids in the Motor City, he spent the summer getting the building on the city's Northwest side ready for the 2011-12 school year. And as the calendar marched towards the fall, it became clear that Rose hadn't jumped into education reform on a whim—he had a deep-seeded belief in the power of education to transform the lives of children. Now, the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy is giving kids in one of the cities hit hardest by the current economic downturn a chance to explore new academic areas, learn how to work together in teams, and become leaders themselves. But Rose's goals in education reform go far beyond a single school. He's now working to bring more professional athletes into the education reform fold, and he even testified at the Michigan State Capitol in support of school choice. His work in expanding educational options has even garnered support from former on-court rival Grant Hill. For a guy whose life changed on the day he was offered a scholarship to attend college, Rose recognizes the importance it can have in a young child's life.

U.S. Representative Daniel Lipinski

In politics, it’s easy for many to follow the crowd. Especially in a body as large as the U.S. House of Representatives, it’s typical to see our elected leaders forego difficult votes and instead obey the wishes of the party leadership. But U.S. Representative Daniel Lipinski, who represents Chicago’s South Side, isn’t your typical politician. The Illinois Democrat holds the distinction of being the only member of his party in the House of Representatives to vote in favor of the SOAR Act—the measure to reauthorize the highly-successful D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program—when it came before the U.S. House in March. For his courageous vote in the face of intense political pressures, his ability to see past traditional and often antiquated party breakdowns, for his unwavering support for low-income kids, and for mirroring the bipartisan cooperation that has become a hallmark of state school choice advocacy, U.S. Rep. Daniel Lipinski is a Champion of School Choice.

Wisconsin Representative Michelle Litjens and Senator Leah Vukmir

Rep. Michelle Litjens and Sen. Leah Vukmir , two state policymakers responsible for introducing Assembly Bill 110 that would create a scholarship program for children with special needs and would help thousands of Wisconsin families, while also saving cash-strapped taxpayers money. The two legislators formed a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers—which includes another prominent champion for school choice, Rep. Jason Fields (D-Milwaukee). For making families and children with special needs a priority and being unafraid to challenge the status quo, the American Federation for Children named both Wisconsin Representative Michelle Litjens and Senator Leah Vukmir as Champions for School Choice.

Former Philadelphia Public Schools Superintendent Arlene Ackerman

She has over 40 years of experience in the public school system as a teacher, principal, and, most recently, a superintendent of the 10th largest school district in the United States. An ardent supporter of public education, she has worked tirelessly to improve public schools on opposite ends of the country, in and out of the classroom. But Arlene Ackerman realizes that many public schools aren’t serving the children in their buildings, and for them, another option is necessary. That’s why the former superintendent surprised many in the education establishment when she forcefully endorsed school choice, even going as far as calling access to a quality education “the civil rights battle of our generation.” Arlene Ackerman is a Champion for School Chocie because of her willingness to take on the education establishment, her commitment to helping kids learn no matter what, and her dedication to putting educational outcomes ahead of bureaucratic systems.

Indiana Superintendent for Public Instruction Tony Bennett

Along with Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and leaders in the legislature, Superintendent Tony Bennett is responsible for creating the most expansive voucher program in the country. Over 3,900 students enrolled to participate in the program. With Governor Daniels at the helm and Bennett riding shotgun, Indiana has one of the most formidable duos committed to school choice in the entire country. And that’s not all—Bennett has committed himself to other reforms, including support for strengthened charter schools, children with special needs, and a revamped form of teacher tenure. For making an unapologetic commitment to school choice, making good on his promises to bring change to Indiana’s education system, and showing the way to many other states around the country, the American Federation for Children is proud to name Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett as a Champion for School Choice.

Former Ohio Rep. Jon Peterson

Former Ohio State Representative Jon Peterson played a big role in the recent expansion of school choice in the Buckeye State, despite the fact that he reached his term limit and left office more than two and a half years ago. Still, it was Peterson’s name that was on the tip of everyone’s tongue at the beginning of July, after Governor John Kasich signed into law a state budget that created, among other provisions, the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship, which will help an estimated 13,000 children. The former legislator—who now serves as the treasurer for Delaware County in Ohio—devoted himself to the cause of special needs children and expanding educational options during his eight years in office. While his own daughter, who has autism, excelled in traditional public schools, it was apparent that not everyone had the same good fortune. That’s why in 2003 Peterson sponsored legislation to create the Ohio Autism Scholarship Program. For his commitment to fighting for children—above and beyond his legislative service—his lasting legacy after leaving office, and the foundation he built in Ohio’s school choice movement, the American Federation for Children named Jon Peterson as a Champion for School Choice.

Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson

Gerard Robinson—the former president of the Black Alliance for Educational Options and a staunch school choice proponent for decades—was on June 21 named the new Florida Commissioner of Education. Though he’s been Virginia’s Secretary of Education since early last year, he’ll be leaving the Old Dominion to take over the educational duties in one of the nation’s most populous states. Robinson was unanimously voted into his new role by the Florida Board of Education, and he will also head south with the blessing of Governor Rick Scott. Gerard Robinson is named a Champion for his commitment to helping those less fortunate, his willingness to take on tough challenges, and his unwavering commitment to giving kids in Florida the same opportunities he fought to give them in Virginia.

Louisiana BESE Member Chas Roemer

After being elected to Louisiana’s Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) in the fall of 2007, Chas Roemer took the stage in Louisiana as a vocal leader of education reform. While on BESE, one of his most notable accomplishments was leading the fight to provide parents more choice through school vouchers and charter schools. Roemer also worked to increase accountability for failing schools and helped pass the Red Tape Reduction Law, which freed local districts from bureaucratic red tape. Roemer sought re-election in order to lead efforts for even bolder education reform measures in Louisiana. For his commitment to stand up for the children and families of Louisiana, fight the status quo, and continue leading the charge for school choice, the American Federation for Children is proud to name Louisiana BESE member Chas Roemer as a Champion for School Choice.

Small-Scale Voucher Effort in India Could Be Model to Transform Education System

2011-12-21T12:55:00.000-05:00

Students take exams outside of a school building in India.

We here at School Choice Now! have tried to give you a look at issues broadly related to school choice, and while our name might indicated otherwise, we're interested in how successful models of educational options abroad can help shape sound policy here at home.

And it looks like we're not the only ones.

In India, officials are looking to voucher programs in the United States and elsewhere to give them insight into how to structure similar programs in the world's second-most populous country. In fact, this has been an ongoing effort -- since 2007, the country's Centre for Civil Society (CCS) has been managing a voucher program that has given scholarships to 408 students in 68 wards in Dehli, India's second-largest metropolitan area.

Voucher amounts are only 3600 rupees (just under $70 here), which might not seem like much, but consider this: spending is so low in Indian schools that, on average, 59 percent of the schools have no drinking water and 89 percent have no toilets. With that in mind, a 3600-rupee scholarship is a significant amount, and the voucher program is achieving a remarkably large return on that investment.

Academic gains by voucher students are particularly notable for outpacing both students at schools run by the Indiana government as well as students studying at private schools. Check out the details, courtesy the India Education Diary, which interviewed CCS president Dr. Parth J. Shah:

While the government has a constitutional mandate to educate every child, it cannot accomplish this task by building more government schools. It has to remain a sponsor and facilitator, and let edupreneurs execute the task of delivering the service. This will bring choice of schools even to the poor while improving the quality of education delivered through competition.

Sound familiar? If so, it's because it is.

These models are not unique to American schools -- nor is, more importantly, their record of success. As the story points out, vouchers for low-income children are showing gains for children from Denmark to New Zeland to Holland. What's more, the fundamental ideological reasons behind choice here and there is the same. It's not rooted in serving special interests or accomplishing some political end. It's about the kids.

Says Dr. Shah:

...[E]ducation is really all about outcomes. Parents want their children to learn and be able to do maths, read and write, speak English, understand basic science and have some sense of history. We should worry less about inputs and more about outcomes.

...

The government should free up teachers to teach, schools to determine the specifics of curriculum and resources, and parents to choose the education that is best for their children. This is the best way to improve education for all: Not just the right to education but the right to education of choice.

Indian's opportunity lies not only in helping its own citizens, but serving as an example for the rest of the world. Though it has started small, a growing surge of support for school vouchers in a country home to more than 1 billion people can do much good to show how vouchers can work on a large scale.

The Indiana people -- of whom 25 percent are still illiterate, only 15 of whom reach high school, and just 7 percent of whom graduate -- deserve better. We hope that, through vouchers and other education innovations, children begin to get access to the quality options they deserve.

If it can happen there, it can -- and should -- happen any/everywhere!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Court Fight Over Successful Voucher Program Continues in Indiana

2011-12-20T15:08:00.000-05:00

Indiana’s Choice Scholarship Program, the voucher program signed into law by Governor Daniels earlier this year, helps almost 4,000 low- and middle-income students go to the school of their parents’ choice. The broadest voucher program in the nation, the program allows families to choose the best educational options for their children.

But opponents and special interests—those who are more interested in the status quo than maximizing positive outcomes for children—are fighting a legal battle to get Indiana’s voucher program repealed, despite numerous challenges across the country in recent years that have upheld the constitutionality of school choice programs.

Yesterday, a Marion County judge heard arguments from both sides on the constitutionality of the program and will issue a ruling in 30 days. Lasting more than two hours, opponents of the program (including the Indiana State Teachers Association) argued that the program is unconstitutional, and if a ruling by a Marion County judge earlier this year is any indication, they’re wrong.

That’s also the opinion held by Attorney General Greg Zoeller, who says the Choice Scholarship Program is putting education choice in the hands of parents.

According to Zoeller,

In defending the statute as is our obligation, we contend the Legislature in creating broader educational opportunities followed the Indiana Constitution, since the scholarship funding is directed to students' families, not to the private schools, and the program does not violate anyone's rights. The state law that legislators passed has allowed approximately 3,900 students across Indiana to use choice scholarships to access wider educational options.

The U.S. Supreme Court has already ruled that state vouchers are constitutional. In 2002, the high court ruled that vouchers do not violate the U.S. Constitution because education dollars go to the parents to choose the school for their children, not to the schools themselves.

While opponents make subjective arguments about the program’s constitutionality, there’s no denying the overwhelmingly positive results that the program has produced in just one semester of operation:

58 percent of scholarship recipients qualify for the free and reduced-price lunch program
53 percent of scholarships recipients are minorities, including 24 percent African-American and 19 percent Hispanic
69 percent of participating students live in metropolitan areas, 16 percent live in suburban areas and 15 percent live in rural areas.
Children using vouchers come from 185 different school districts.

The Choice Scholarship Program will enroll up to 15,000 students next year, and beginning in 2013-14, there will be no cap on scholarships.

Families who make up to 100 percent of the free and reduced-price lunch program receive a scholarship of 90 percent of the per-pupil amount. Families who make up to 150 percent of the free and reduced-price lunch program receive a scholarship of 50 percent of the per-pupil amount.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

In Virginia, Massie Seeks Critical Mass on School Choice

2011-12-19T17:51:00.001-05:00

Virginia Del. Jimmie Massie is among those hoping to bring
comprehensive education reform to the Commonwealth in 2012.

Virginia Delegate Jimmie Massie, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates since 2007, is leading the way to bring real educational options to the Old Dominion State.

In fact, Massie has already led Virginia part of the way to comprehensive reform, by sponsoring a bill last session that would allow low-income students to receive scholarships to attend the school of their parent’s choice. And while House Bill 2314 passed the House 54-45 last year, it failed in the Senate.

But Massie, Governor Bob McDonnell, school choice supporters, and families across Virginia are not giving up.

That’s because Massie is expected to introduce similar legislation this year in order to bring real education options to the Dominion State.

“Too often students aren’t able to reach their full potential because the school they attend is not the best fit and their families can’t afford to send them to a nonpublic school,” Massie said in January 2011. “By providing this tax incentive […] we will be able to provide school options for students and their parents, in order for them to get the education they deserve, at no cost to the state. This legislation will go far to expand the educational opportunities available to students in Virginia.”

And Virginia already supports school choice.

According to polling data, majorities across all ideological lines support broad school choice measures in Virginia, including the specific programs that make up the bulk of private school choice across America.

Voucher supporters make up the majority across the board (53 percent of Democrats, 67 percent of Republicans, 58 percent of Independents), while supporters of tax credit scholarships (64 percent of Democrats, 68 percent of Republicans, 66 percent of Independents) exist in even larger numbers.

Additionally, there is a groundswell of support from all sides when it comes to special needs scholarships. More than three-fourths of Independents (76 percent), nearly four in five Republicans (79 percent), and a remarkable 81 percent of Democrats approve of special needs scholarships.

With public support behind him, Massie is in a great position to lead Virginia to become the ninth state to offer families educational options through scholarship tax credit programs!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Volunteers Forego Vouchers in Favor of Governor's Task Force

2011-12-16T12:42:00.001-05:00

Well, it looks like students in the Volunteer State may have to wait another year.

Governor Bill Haslam says he isn’t ready to bring vouchers to the state, but instead will set up a task force to study how vouchers would work in Tennessee.

The task force will have nine members, including Senator Brian Kelsey (R-Collierville)—one of the original sponsors of school choice legislation earlier this year—Richard Montgomery (R-Sevierville), chairman of the House Education Committee, former Senator Jamie Woodson of Knoxville, and State Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman, who will chair the committee.

The group is tasked with seeking “to provide meaningful education options to disadvantaged students," according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.

To save the task force some time—and so they can get right to work on creating real educational options for disadvantaged students today—we thought we’d get a head start on what vouchers could mean for Tennessee:

High Graduation Rates: School choice programs have high graduation rates. The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program is a prime example, with scholarship students graduating at a rate of 91 percent, 21 percentage points higher than those interested in the program who did not receive a scholarship. And in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, students graduate at a higher rate (7.2 percent higher) than their public school counterparts.

High Academic Achievement: Students in school choice programs achieve better academic results. The D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program demonstrated “the largest achievement impact of any education policy program yet evaluated” by the U.S. Department of Education, and those students received the equivalent of an extra three months of learning.

High Parental Satisfaction: Parents show high levels of satisfaction in school choice programs—well over 90 percent in most cases—all across the country, the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program to Louisiana’s Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program.

Despite the evidence, Tennessee’s elected officials are choosing to wait. What they seem not to understand is that children stuck in failing schools don’t have time to wait.

Some, however, do get it.

Senator Kelsey, who will sit on the governor’s task force, sponsored the aforementioned legislation that would provide scholarships to students eligible under the federal free and reduced-price lunch program in Knox, Davidson, Hamilton, and Shelby Counties—the four largest counties in the state. Scholarship would be awarded up to $5,400.

And last year, the state Senate actually passed similar legislation championed by Representative Bill Dunn (R-Knoxville). The bill failed to pass the House.

Let’s listen to school choice champions like Dunn and Kelsey. They know that the time is now to bring real options to Tennessee families.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

A Disappointing Outcome in Pennsylvania

2011-12-15T14:32:00.000-05:00

Students all across the Keystone State were last night forced to take a giant step backward when it comes to educational options, as the Pennsylvania House of Representatives failed to pass—or even vote on—legislation that would create and expand much-needed educational choices.

What did the Pennsylvania legislature have the opportunity to do?

To provide scholarships to low-income students stuck in the state’s worst-performing schools; to expand the highly-popular Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program; and to create a state commission that would authorize charter schools, providing yet another options for Pennsylvania families.

In the Senate, similar legislation—which passed in October with bipartisan support—would grant scholarships to students in the bottom five percent of Pennsylvania schools and expand the highly-popular Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program.

But in order to become law, families across the state needed the House to act.

And although it looks like the House of Representatives won’t be able to get the job done this year, the state’s elected officials still have a commitment to students to provide them with a quality education to all students

The Governor’s office is on the same page, according to The Patriot News:

We expect the House leadership to live up to their commitment to the children of Pennsylvania and the governor to run and pass a school-choice bill as quickly as possible.

And we are not letting anyone give up on that commitment to our children.

Educational options in the Keystone State are imperative, and here’s why:

Only 41 percent of fourth graders are proficient in reading. That number drops to 38 percent for eigth graders.

In Philadelphia, only 13 percent of fourth graders and 16 percent of eighth graders are proficient in reading. When it comes to math, the picture isn't much better: 20 and 18 percent of fourth and eighth graders, respectively, are proficient.

More than 37 percent of students are eligible for the federal free and reduced-price lunch program and 11.4 percent of Pennsylvanians live in poverty.

These facts are dismal, but the support for real education reform is strong. Just last month, the REACH Alliance held a rally at the State Capitol calling on the House to pass school choice legislation.

And the American Federation f or Children—along with school choice advocates, families, and our children—is ready to keep on fighting until more educational options are available in the Keystone State.

The Pennsylvania legislature reconvenes on January 3, when we’ll be ready to remind legislators of their duty to pass this important plan.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Singleton Signals Strong Support for OSA in New Jersey

2011-12-14T17:11:00.000-05:00

NJ Assemblyman Troy Singleton (D-7).

New Jersey Assemblyman Troy Singleton has only been in the legislature for a couple of months, and already, he's standing up for educational options in the Garden State. In an editorial published in today’s Times of Trenton, the newly-minted lawmaker—who took over after the resignation of former Rep. Jack Conners in September—spoke out strongly in favor of the Opportunity Scholarship Act:

The OSA, as well as other strategic programs that are intended to enhance the educational opportunities of our children, is the answer. In approving the OSA, we must step outside of our preconceived notions and work toward our common goal of providing the best education for our children who are falling through the cracks year after year.

So, just who is Representative Troy Singleton?

Well, he’s a Democrat representing District 7, which includes Beverly, Burlington, Edgewater Park, and Riverside, New Jersey. Originally born in Philadelphia, Singleton was born in Willingboro and now resides in Palmyra with his wife and three children.

After winning his seat in the special election earlier this year, he's joined the growing list of Democratic OSA supporters.

Why?

Our educational foundation must be steeped in the principle that every child, regardless of ZIP Code, should be afforded the tools necessary to succeed. Adhering to this principle, however, can be particularly daunting in some segments of our society, where significant outside factors, such as crime, family strife and lack of nutrition, have a severe impact on the education of our children.

And that’s not all:

I am committed to ensuring that all children have that same opportunity to succeed. As we continue to strive to enhance our education system for all the state’s children, we have to consider tools such as the OSA to save as many students as we can as we pursue that goal.

It’s easy to see why Singleton is so passionate about great schools in New Jersey, since he himself attended Rowan University in New Jersey, studying business administration.

Singleton wants all of us to stand up for New Jersey’s Children. But he has a specific request for his colleagues in the legislature: “Over the lame-duck session of the Legislature, I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle recognize the critical importance of the OSA and why it needs to be signed into law now," he said. "Our children simply can no longer afford to wait.”

Watch below to learn more about this rising star in the Garden State.

Let’s hope his fellow Assembly members—both Democrats and Republicans—stand up and support this vital legislation!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

In Midst of Impending Court Fight, Arizona Families Prosper With School Choice

2011-12-12T18:38:00.004-05:00

Although Aaron McLemore, a student participant in Arizona's
Empowerment Savings Accounts Program, has thrived as a result of
school choice, the future of the program remains in jeopardy.

An Arizona lawsuit filed to prevent special needs students from participating in a new form of school choice is likely headed to the state Supreme Court.

The Arizona Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program allows children identified as having a disability to receive 90 percent of state funding to use on a variety of educational tools including tuition and fees, textbooks, educational therapies, tutoring, and college courses.

This program, commonly called an education savings accounts or ESA, puts parents—not schools or bureaucracies—in charge of education dollars.

But opponents, including the Arizona School Boards Association and the Arizona Education Association, want to prevent this program from moving forward. Instead of putting the power in the hands of parents (who know their children best), special interests want the status quo for special needs children.

The Institute for Justice (IJ) has taken the case, Niehaus v. Huppenthal, on behalf of participating families and supporters of school choice. According to the IJ , ESAs are constitutional because they offer a wide variety of educational choices.

The Goldwater Institute has also joined in the fight to help families.

But while lawyers battle it out for educational choice in the courts, we must remember that this program helps real families; just ask the McLemores.

When Kelly McLemore’s son Aaron was diagnosed with autism at age 3, she immediately enrolled him in the public preschool. In a self-contained classroom, Aaron struggled every day.

He didn't socialize well with the other students or his teacher. He often had outbursts of anger and was aggressive towards others. Kelly would keep Aaron home several days each week to give the teacher a break.

“My concern,” Kelly said, “was that not all kids learn the same. Not all disabilities are the same.”

When she heard on the news about a new school choice program that utilized education savings accounts, Kelly immediately applied. As the first family in the state to submit an application for the program, the McLemores were soon approved to participate.

Now in first grade at Chrysalis Academy, Aaron has made significant improvements.

“He is more calm and relaxed,” Kelly said. “Aaron is interactive now with adults and other kids. He does tasks that are requested of him and is paying attention.”

Aaron is able to watch television with his family, play with his three brothers and the dog, and has shown an interest in computers.

“This is what I’ve been praying for for three years,” said Kelly. “My son can be active and productive in society now.”

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

With Renewed Faith in Their Program, D.C. Families Celebrate the Holidays

2011-12-09T19:03:00.003-05:00

Students from Kuumba Learning Center perform during the
annual D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Holiday Party.

More than 570 families participating in the highly-successful D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program (OSP) attended an annual holiday party hosted by the D.C. Children and Youth Investment Trust Corporation yesterday.

Parents and kids turned out to celebrate the holidays with arts and crafts, music from OSP students, and lots and lots (and lots) of food.

The party included music performances by OSP students. A band from Calvary Christian Academy opened the evening, while families also heard carols from the Nannie Helen Burroughs School and a djembe drum performance by students from Kuumba Learning Center.

And an OSP freshman attending St. John’s College High School played “The First Noel” on the violin.

But some of the loudest cheers (other than when Santa Claus made an appearance) came when the Alliance for School Choice announced the winners of its first annual Poster and Essay Contest for OSP students. The contest asked participants to submit an essay or poster in response to the following statement: "Why I love My School & the D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program."

With more than 20 prizes given out, the grand prize (a Visa gift card worth $500) was given to Justin Snead, a second grader at Naylor Road School.

The grand prize winner,
7-year-old Justin Snead.

In his winning essay, Snead wrote:

My favorite subject is science because my mom comes to my school and does science projects with my class.

I am glad that I can come back to Naylor Road School. The DC Opportunity Scholarship Program and my mom helped me go there.

But prizes weren’t the only thing on the agenda.

The families also got an aforementioned visit from Santa, who brought plenty of gifts including books, toys, and school supplies.

Students and a parent pose with Santa Claus at this year's
annual D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Holiday Party.

Families had a lot to celebrate this year, after advocates and countless D.C. parents fought tirelessly for the program to be saved. Their work paid off, as in April, the program was expanded and reauthorized for five years.

The D.C. OSP was originally enacted in 2004. This year, 1,615 students participate in the program—a 60 percent increase over last year.

An evaluation of the program conducted by the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Educational Studies found that participants had a 91 percent graduation rate, 21 percentage points higher than those interested in the program who did not receive a scholarship.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Something to Sing about in the Peach State

2011-12-08T16:01:00.001-05:00

Grammy-winning singer Marvin Sapp wowed a
packed, reform-minded church in Georgia yesterday.

What does an award winning and Grammy nominated musician have to do with education reform? In Georgia—a lot.

Marvin Sapp—the eight-time Grammy nominated gospel singer from Grand Rapids, Mich. spoke last night at "Educating our Future: The Fight for Georgia’s Children," hosted by the Center for an Educated Georgia and the Alliance for School Choice.

The event, an informational forum about education reform and how the community can get involved, drew nearly 1,000 supporters.

Sapp, who sang two songs at the event, spoke about his strong support for education reform, as well as his plans to open the GREAT School, a charter school focused on the arts in his home town of Grand Rapids.

Originally a passion of his late wife, Sapp has continued to pursue opening a charter school following the death of his wife last year.

“The reason I came here is two-fold,” said Sapp, referring to participating on a panel discussion on education reform and, of course, singing a couple of hit songs for the excited crowd.

And Georgia certainly has a lot to sing about. The Peach State is home to two publicly-funded school choice programs: the Georgia Special Needs Scholarship Program and the Georgia Scholarship Tax Credit Program.

But the community forum wasn’t all about great music and the state’s educational successes. Speakers reminded attendees of the work that still needs to be done to ensure that every child—especially minority and low-income children—is receiving a quality education.

National education reform advocate Dr. Howard Fuller extols
the importance of giving school choice to low-income families.

Dr. Howard Fuller, co-founder the Black Alliance for Educational Options and the 2011 recipient of the John T. Walton Champions for School Choice Award, spoke of the importance of educational options for low-income families.

“I am for public schools,” said Fuller, the longtime education reform advocate and former superintendent of Milwaukee Public Schools. “But I’m against the public school system. And that’s an important difference.”

Also in attendance was State Representative Alisha Thomas Morgan (D-Cobb County), who stressed that a lot of public schools—and their teachers—are providing a high-quality education. She noted, however, that families need educational options if traditional public schools aren't working for their children.

Students, parents, and community activists were among the
attendees at Educating our Future: The Fight for Georgia's Children.

Sapp and the panel left the crowd with some strong advice: everyone in the community must fight for a quality education for all children.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG

Right Now In Georgia: Award-Winning Singer Marvin Sapp Discusses Education Reform

2011-12-07T19:19:00.000-05:00

We'll have much more to bring you from the event tomorrow, but right now, we wanted to give you a sneak peak at the full recap we'll be providing tomorrow on a special even we're co-hosting starring legendary gospel singer Marvin Sapp. The full details can be found here, but read below for some perspective on why we're so excited about the event, courtesy our own David Morgan:

You have to have a great messenger when you’re trying to do something radically different.

Education impacts us all. When you have a well-educated society, that’s just a win-win for everybody involved…We want to make sure that children and families have every opportunity available to get a good education and are not deprived due to geography or income.

I believe in strong public education and I also believe that families should have options. That makes a huge difference.

We'll bring you a full update of all the songs and important discussion tomorrow, so stay tuned to this space to get the full recap.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

On The Pages of the Grey Lady, a Flawed Take on School Choice

2011-12-06T18:21:00.002-05:00

After a summer of high-profile stories on school choice in the editorial pages of national newspapers, the issue is making mainstream waves again after an article in Sunday's New York Times by Natalie Hopkinson that proclaimed the failure of educational options, specifically in Washington, D.C. While the piece focuses solely on charter schools, the faulty argument could easily be applied to broader forms of choice, too -- that is hurts the middle class and helps perpetuate segregation among low-income schools in the nation's capital.

The facts, however, could not be further from that assertion.

It is not school choice that's to be blamed for low performance and a growing achievement gap; after all, school choice -- be it charters, or the city's high-performing D.C. Opportunity Scholarship Program -- didn't exist long into the District's significant declines in achievement. School choice is to blame, however, for helping close that gap. Choice is too a culprit in helping improve the performance of traditional public schools, and we should stick it to school choice when we consider that students enrolled in the Opportunity Scholarship Program are more than 30 percentage points more likely to graduate than students in the traditional public school system. That's not to mention the fact that more than half of all D.C. public school students are now enrolled in a charter school.

If these options were so bad, why would families continue utilizing them, and seeing their performance improving?

The answer lies in the fact that Hopkinson's piece is based on an egregious lack of evidence or data to back up her claims. And we're not the only ones who think so. The smart folks at Dropout Nation pick apart the piece, and Matthew Yglesias over at Slate makes the same point, also accurately pointing out that all boats are actually being lifting as a result of choice.

There are even more critiques and thoughtful takes on the article, as well as a persuasive opinion piece from The Washington Examiner showing the demand for and the positive effect of vouchers.

This all goes to show that if you make claims that fly in the face of reality and fail to even make an attempt at presenting evidence to back them up, people will take note and call things as they see them.

An opinion is one thing; vague anecdotal claims without data are something completely different.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

The Institute for Justice Opens Schoolhouse Doors in Indiana

2011-12-05T18:52:00.001-05:00

Our friends at the Institute for Justice had a busy summer, helping to defend Indiana's new Choice Scholarship voucher program against attempts by special interests to stop the new plan. We told you in mid-August when a Marion County judge decided against blocking the voucher program, but that decision didn't come in a vacuum; it was the result of a strong effort from various school choice champions to make the case for the legality of the program.

And foremost among those champions was IJ. Now, they're out with a new publication that speaks to Indiana's place in the long history of the courts' support for school choice. In "Opening the Schoolhouse Doors," by IJ's Angela C. Erickson, read how they helped the Hoosier State stay on the cutting edge of the national movement to expand educational options to families who need them.

You can download the full PDF of the publication here. And be sure to read more about the document on the IJ website.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Two-Day HCREO Event Highlights Need for School Choice in Southwest

2011-12-02T17:34:00.002-05:00

Elected officials joined education reformers from around the country in thunderous applause, as they took to their feet to cheer a young Arizona Hispanic student after hearing the young scholar's inspiring story.

It was just one of the many moving stories told this week in Arizona, where a two-day conference hosted by one of the most unwavering of school choice allies aimed to address one of the seminal educational problems facing the country.

The event, hosted by the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options (HCREO), brought together reformers from around the country, elected officials from several states in the Southwestern U.S., and local parents and students eager to discuss how they could all get more involved in providing Hispanic children with educational options.

Representatives in attendance included those from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas. The lawmakers engaged in round table discussions and presentations about how to best communicate the school choice options available to families, as well as how to expand those options to even more students.

The entire event boded well for the future of school choice prospects in the aforementioned states, as legislators left energized and inspired. In the end, that attitude can only end up benefiting kids in the long run.

Among the non-elected panelists as the conference was our vice chairman, John Kirtley, who spoke and gave a well-received presentation. There were many more highlights from the event, so if you'd like to learn more, visit the HCREO website at www.HCREO.com.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, NM

In the Backyard of the New Jersey Legislature, Thousands Rally to Demand School Choice

2011-12-01T18:33:00.005-05:00


Rev. Reginald T. Jackson speaks before a crowd of thousands at a rally for the Opportunity Scholarship Act in Trenton, NJ, on Dec. 1.

"We vote you in!"

"We'll vote you out!"

The chant was at first a bit difficult to hear, but after a few refrains—and a steady increase in volume—the message to the men and women working in the building in front of the crowd couldn't be denied.

That was the scene today at the New Jersey State Capitol in Trenton, where over 2,000 students, parents, education advocates, and legislators joined together to express their unwavering desire for school choice in the Garden State.

The rally was in favor of the Opportunity Scholarship Act (OSA), the legislation currently being considered in the state legislature, which convenes at the very place where Thursday's rally was held. The OSA would create a tax credit scholarship program for low-income students trapped in the state's worst-performing school districts, finally giving their parents the opportunity to send them to high-quality schools.

We were on hand in Trenton today, and the atmosphere was electric. We did our best to give live updates of the action through the cold Jersey winds, and you can check out our Twitter feed for many of the updates here.

Organized by We Can Do Better New Jersey, E3 (Excellent Education for Everyone), and other members of the New Jersey School Choice Alliance, local favorites like Rev. Reginald T. Jackson, executive director of the Black Ministers Council, said that it was time to stop falling back on old excuses that more money can solve the state's education crisis (in fact, there are New Jersey school districts spending as much as $25,000 per student, while continuing to under-perform).

"The issue is not about money," Jackson told the crowd. "The issue is the quality of learning. We need the Opportunity Scholarship Act Now!"

(Click here to see Jackson's speech at our 2011 National Policy Summit. You can also watch a short clip of the speech here.)

A bipartisan group of legislators and advocates made up the speakers at the Capitol, including our own Kevin P. Chavous, a Democrat who is just one in a growing coalition of progressive leaders who are willing to buck the status quo.

"This is not about Republican or Democrat," Chavous said. "This is about our future."


Former D.C. Councilman Kevin P. Chavous struck a bipartisan tone at a Dec. 1 rally for school choice in Trenton, NJ.

"The revolution for change starts here in New Jersey," he continued. "This is your opportunity to have your voice heard."

Legislators traveled from as far away as Georgia, the home of State Rep. Alisha Morgan (D). She echoed an earlier point from Chavous about how kids need to be at the heart of the education reform debate—not the jobs of bureaucrats, systems, or school buildings.

"It's not about systems," Morgan told an energized crowd. "It's about kids."

The distance traveled was much shorter for some other supporters, including New Jersey State Sen. Thomas Kean, Jr., who only needed to step outside his office building to express his support for the OSA. But being on his home turf didn't supress his energy, as the Republican Minority Leader made clear that this is not a fight against public education, teachers, or those New Jersey public schools that are boasting high achievement.

"I’m a proud supporter of public education." Kean said. "It is the responsibility of state government to ensure that every child in New Jersey has access to a quality education, regardless of zip code. And that’s why I am fighting so hard for the Opportunity Scholarship Act."


New Jersey State Sen. Thomas Kean, Jr. and an excited student speak to the Trenton crowd at Dec. 1's school choice rally.

This is only the first of many efforts by school choice advocates to let legislators know that there's a groundswell of support for choice in New Jersey. As the legislative session heats up, expect even more cheers from the people, letting their elected officials know that it's time to put aside politics, special interests, and the status quo.

It's time to do what's right for kids.

It's time to pass the Opportunity Scholarship Act.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Rallying Together to Bring New Jersey Kids Hope

2011-11-30T18:27:00.002-05:00

If you were in Jersey City, NJ, today, you might have heard the noise of the status quo, as various special interests gathered to oppose giving hope to children via New Jersey's proposed Opportunity Scholarship Act.

But if we have anything to say it, our voices will be much, much louder.

That's because tomorrow, we're joining with allies from all across the state to rally in favor of the legislation, which would grant scholarships to Garden State students trapped in failing schools. We'll be taking our cause right to Trenton, too, with the hope that the state's legislators will be listening in the building behind us. Many of the legislators who have pledged support for the bill, as well as national education reform leaders from all across the country, will be there too.

Interested in joining us? Our great friends at We Can Do Better New Jersey have all the details, and can answer your questions and have ways for you to get involved.

Of course, we'll give you the full recap of the rally tomorrow afternoon. But you locals shouldn't have to worry about that, because we should see you there!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Amid Court Proceedings, Allies Reach Out in Arizona

2011-11-28T18:40:00.003-05:00

The United States Supreme Court, where an Arizona case upheld
the constitutionality of scholarship tax credits earlier this year.

It's been a busy week in Arizona, and things aren't letting up in the days ahead.

First, there was the news early last week that an Arizona court dismissed one of the plaintiffs' claims in a lawsuit aiming to stop students from participating in Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Program.

And then, today, parents of students enrolled in the groundbreaking program took to court to defend additional claims from the plaintiffs. (In this case, a group of special interests intent on maintaining the educational status quo for Arizona families.)

You can learn more about the history of Arizona's court battles, as well as Monday's developments, by clicking here.

But it's not all about court wranglings out in the Grand Canyon State. The next two days will also feature some of the best that Arizona school choice champions have to offer, as the Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options (HCREO) is teaming up with reformers around the country to address one of the most pressing educational problems facing the state.

Dozens of Hispanic elected officials and top leading figures in the K-12 reform movement from the Southwest are gathering tomorrow and Wednesday to find answers to the growing problem the growing achievement gap among Hispanic students.

We've partnered with HCREO to move from discussion to action, by providing solutions to a souring Hispanic dropout rate and the continued lack of quality education available to the country's largest minority population.

The two day informative session will address the educational crisis Hispanics face and explore the various options available. Policymakers will learn how they can help to ensure that each child has access to quality education.

To learn more about the event, visit www.HCREO.com.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, NM

Happy Thanksgiving from the Federation and the Alliance!

2011-11-22T17:55:00.003-05:00

From everyone here at the American Federation for Children and the Alliance for School Choice, we want to wish you a very (early and) happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

We'll be taking the rest of the week off to enjoy the holidays with our friends and family, and we hope you do, too.

Thank you for all your hard work this year in helping bring educational options to the kids who need them most.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

A Statement from the American Federation for Children and Alliance for School Choice on the Passing of Ted Forstmann

2011-11-21T19:23:00.002-05:00

It was just a week and a half ago that we brought you the inspiring story of the Children's Scholarship Fund, the brainchild of the late John T. Walton and Ted Fortsmann. The Wall Street Journal was profiling Fortsmann and his amazing organization, which has helped hundreds of thousands of low-income kids get a good education since Fortsmann and Walton started it in 1999.

Today, we're sad to be writing about Fortsmann again. The philanthropist and education reformer died yesterday at the age of 71. Our chairman, Betsy DeVos, released a statement expressing her sadness upon learning the news of Fortsmann's death:

On behalf of the entire American Federation for Children and the Alliance for School Choice, I want to express my heartfelt sadness upon learning of the passing of our friend Ted Forstmann yesterday.

Ted was a revolutionary thinker in the fight for education reform, a pioneer who dedicated his life to helping disadvantaged children and advancing the cause of educational equality throughout the country. One of his crowning achievements was the Children’s Scholarship Fund, which he founded in 1999 with another school choice visionary, the late John T. Walton.

Through the work of the Children’s Scholarship Fund, Ted helped give over $480 million in scholarships to hundreds of thousands of low-income children nationwide. He brought together a bipartisan coalition of philanthropists, business leaders and public officials, giving strength to the long-term prospects of fundamental and substantive school reform for disadvantaged kids.

You can read the full statement here. The Forstmann family is in the thoughts and prayers of the entire Alliance and Federation staffs.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Farewell to A Great School Choice Friend!

2011-11-18T18:24:00.002-05:00

On this Friday, we share a bit of bittersweet news from our friends at School Choice Ohio regarding their great executive director, Chad Aldis:

COLUMBUS, Ohio (Nov. 16, 2011) – School Choice Ohio today announced that Executive Director Chad Aldis will be stepping down from his position with the organization to begin a new role with a national education reform organization.

“School Choice Ohio is grateful for Chad’s leadership and for his steadfast commitment to expanding school choice in the state of Ohio for the past four years,” said School Choice Ohio Board Chair Matt Cox. “He has helped position this organization to become a national leader on school choice, and we look forward to building on this solid groundwork as we continue our work to ensure that every child has access to a quality education.”

Under Aldis’ leadership, School Choice Ohio has become an established advocate for school choice of all types and a resource for the media, legislators, and business leaders on education reform. The organization also serves as an information source for thousands of Ohio families who are seeking the best educational environment for their children.

[...]

“I have enjoyed my time at School Choice Ohio working to help secure school choice for thousands of Ohio families who need it the most,” said Aldis. “It has been rewarding to work with and advocate on behalf of parents who are committed to finding a better educational option for their child.”

You can read the full release here (PDF).

Thankfully, Chad won't be a complete stranger—he'll be working with the great education reformers at Students First. And we still have a week to bother him: his last day isn't until next Friday, Nov. 25.

But for all the great work he's one for School Choice Ohio and, more importantly, families in the Buckeye State, we say: thanks, Chad, and good luck!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance School Choice, MAG

The Next Generation of School Choice Champions

2011-11-17T17:37:00.000-05:00

Many of the folks who have been fighting to give kids educational options have worked in this movement for many years—just take a look at the Alliance for School Choice's John T. Walton Award Winners to get an idea of some of the most committed school choice champions.

But another group of those engaged in helping kids through school choice weren't even around (or were still crawling around) when the first private school choice program in America was enacted, over two decades ago. For them, the fight has been a more recent one, meaning less perspective and awareness of the long, hard work that preceded them.

You might think that that would dampen their interest and engagement in bringing kids school choice.

But you'd be wrong.

Recent days and weeks have ushered in a flurry of commentary from young people on why school choice is so important. Some of them were beneficiaries of the scholarships that rescued them from failing schools, and others weren't.

The one thing they all have in common, though, is a realization that it's going to soon be up to a new generation of leaders to carry the torch for educational equality for all.

A piece by a University of Rochester junior published in today's issue of a campus newspaper, The Campus Times, shows the knowledge of and conviction about school choice among many students today:

Instead, it’s time to call for more school choice. Every child is different from one another, and each one deserves the freedom to attend a range of schools that cater to individual educational needs. Whether it’s establishing charter schools and magnet schools, opportunity scholarships, offering tax credits to offset education expenses or helping families that home-school, all kinds of school choice should be celebrated.

It’s about making all American schools more effective and motivating through common-sense solutions that emphasize flexibility, innovation and accountability. We must end the era where a postal code decides what school you’re assigned to and begin a new era that empowers parents to choose what is best for the student.

School choice has slowly been on the rise as of late, aided in part by the September 2010 release of “Waiting for Superman,” a documentary chronicling the lives of several families trying to get their children out of failing schools and into successful ones, made possible by school choice.

Several media outlets have even dubbed 2011 the Year of School Choice, and rightly so. Starting with the first annual National School Choice Week in January, school choice legislation has been passed in at least 12 states this year, and another 30 states have had legislation introduced. School choice is even growing in the social media sector, where innovative outlets like Choice Media TV have opened up.

The full piece is available here, and you should definitely check out a few more pieces. The folks at National School Choice Week have posted a series of pieces from college students over the past few weeks, and you can check them all out by visiting their blog here.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

In Light of Recent Abuse, It's Time We Stand Up for Our Kids

2011-11-16T18:34:00.004-05:00

Yesterday we brought you an unfortunate story of a Chicago teachers union leader making inappropriate and disparaging remarks about Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in front of a crowd (and laughing about it). Pretty bad, right?

Well, it's nothing compared to this.

Rarely does a story bring about such a universal reaction—disgust, anger, sadness—as the one we're about to show you. NBC's Today Show first reported on the story of 14-year-old Cheyanne, a special needs student from an Ohio town about 40 miles southwest of Columbus. It's a story of being bullied, something far too many children encounter every day in schools all across the country. But this time, it's different.

The bullies were the teachers.

That's right—it's not students, but instead a teacher and her aide who proceed to call the girl dumb, a liar, and chastise her for "hav[ing] no friends." They make fun of her appearance, her parents, and even give her an "F" on a test without even bothering to grade it.

It took a secret tape recorder carried by Cheyanne to prove that what she was reporting to her father was actually happening, and even after administrators heard them, only the teaching aide was fired (and not immediately, either). And despite the fact that these sad events took place last school year, the teacher in the case was only put on administrative leave two days ago.

Let that sink in for a second.

She was still allowed to be around kids, even though administrators were presented with recorded proof of her verbally abusing a defenseless girl with special needs.

But it gets worse. When the district superintendent was informed of what was happening to Cheyanne, he told her dad that he should "let it go."

Watch NBC's piece on the awful situation below:

Thankfully, Cheyanne's father Brian is working with lawyers to make sure that the teacher doesn't simply have to go to classes or isn't just transferred to another school or district—he's doing his best to make sure she never teach again.

As we said yesterday, it's important to put this situation in perspective, as awful as it is. Most teachers of all stripes, and especially those who work with special needs children, are compassionate, caring, and out to help the students as best they can. Cheyanne's experience isn't common.

But that doesn't make it any less unacceptable. And it's important that we react accordingly to instances like these, both to let abusive people in positions of power know that it's not okay, and to let students know that they should speak out about such abuse, and they should continue to do so until something is done about it.

Recent days and weeks have been filled with news at various educational levels, and of varying degrees, where adults have failed our kids. It takes a community of collective voices to make clear that it will not be tolerated, and the punishments facing these adults need to fit their heinous crimes.

Cheyanne deserves better. All kids do.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

The Chicago Teachers Union President's Sad, Embarrassing Rant

2011-11-15T12:18:00.003-05:00

A truly unfortunate video that's been making the rounds today shines a light on some terrible tactics used by special interest leaders out there who fight to maintain the status quo in their opposition to school choice and other education reforms.

Oftentimes, reform opponents have legitimate concerns with voucher and scholarship tax credit programs.

Other times, they're only out to launch public and proud attacks against others.

It was the latter case last month in Seattle, where the president of the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU), Karen Lewis, engaged in an absolutely embarrassing, childish, and despicable rant at an event that was supposed to be about social justice.

But when you hear what Lewis has to say, you'll realize that there's nothing justified—or dignified—about any of it.

Watch the video below, posted by the Education Action Group, to see four minutes that feature attacks the on everyone from the president to the education secretary to kids with speech impediments (and keep in mind that there's some inappropriate subject matter, so view accordingly).

In just a few short minutes, Lewis finds time to do as follows:

Compare Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's education credentials to that of a custodian
Lampoon Duncan's college education and college athletes generally
Accuse Chicago Tribune editorial artists of being racists
Joke about her past drug use while acknowledging kids are present in the audience
And, most disgustingly, make a completely inappropriate and ad hominem attack on Duncan's manner of speaking (as well as others with speech impediments)

This is not some rogue CTU member who got caught speaking into a hot mic. This is the president of the organization, at a national conference, with the acknowledgement and awareness that her words are being recorded.

We often have our disagreements with Secretary Duncan and President Obama (among many others), but they deserve a level of respect that Lewis never even comes close to.

It's an embarrassment to the overwhelming majority of teachers out there who work hard every day to help kids, do the right thing, and set a good example for the young people that look to them for guidance.

We're now hearing that Lewis has apologized privately to Duncan, but instead of her organization taking some responsibility for the damning video, a CTU spokesperson instead threw the blame back at the folks at EAG, saying they want to shift the "focus from bad public policy decisions in education to attacks on [Lewis'] character."

They're the ones who want to shift the focus? Lewis wasn't baited into these remarks; she is an adult who made the decision to say awful things about people in a highly inappropriate way. That decision was hers and hers alone, and no amount of spin can change the facts of her shameful public display.

Thankfully, we know that Lewis is the exception, and not the rule. It's just unfortunate that she's the person setting the tone for the teachers union in one of the country's largest urban school districts. To all the kids in Chicago and others who witnessed her rant: you deserve better.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Over A Decade Later, the Lasting Legacy of School Choice Champions Lives On

2011-11-10T18:54:00.001-05:00

The deputy editor of the Wall Street Journal's editorial page devoted his column this week to a creation of two of the most committed men when it comes to giving educational options to low-income kids: Ted Forstmann and the late John Walton.

Ever heard of the Children's Scholarship Fund? If so, then you're familiar with one of Forstmann and Walton's most innovative education reform ideas. In the years since it was created in the late 1990s, nearly $500 million in scholarships has been provided to over 120,000 low-income children to attend schools that their parents chose for them.

Few private organization share so closely a mission with ours—to give low-income kids the same opportunities afforded to those who are well off. CSF, however, is a rare ally truly empowers families and parents with the ability to choose the learning environment most suited for their children, who they know most.

But back to today's column, about the fund and the continued plight of kids trapped in failing inner-city schools. In many ways, this year's sweeping school choice victories are the result of the hard work that Forstmann and Walton were engaged in far before it was popular, and far before over 200,000 children were benefiting from school choice all around the country.

Henninger dives deeper into that idea in his column:

Some time back, in an essay on the entrepreneur's social role, Mr. Forstmann wrote, "He inhabits a world where belief precedes results." For years, no more frustrating belief has existed in American domestic politics than the possibility of giving inner-city children a better education. Against the public-school monopoly, sustained forward movement has seemed impossible. That may be changing. This year at least 13 states passed some form of school-choice legislation. Notably, Indiana's new voucher program is letting parents use public funds this fall to send their children to private, mostly religious, schools.

We live in bitter and divided political times, with optimism in short supply. It is somehow fitting that an idea Ted Forstmann and John Walton put in motion 12 years ago just had a breakout year. Sometimes, belief really does produce results.

We strongly encourage you to read the entire column. If you reaction is anything like ours, it will both inspire and empower you. As Henninger says, belief is often the key to doing amazing things.

You can also watch a video where he explains the story of the Children's Scholarship Fund, and how it's helping so many families all across America, event today.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Strong Support Among Non-Union Teachers for School Choice

2011-11-09T18:50:00.001-05:00

Stay tuned to this space in the next couple of weeks, as we'll be unveiling a fair amount of public polling research that speaks to current opinions on school choice as well as how those ideas have evolved over time.

In the meantime, though, we came across a survey released last week from the Association of American Educators. The AAE is one of the largest non-union teachers associations nationwide. It's made up of teachers at traditional public schools, public charter schools, and private schools.

People who oppose educational options for low-income kids often attack our movement as anti-teacher, forgetting that we believe teachers to be the backbone and lifeblood of strong education in this country. And, they musn't forget that the every one of the educational options for which we advocate is filled with teachers too.

That's all a long way of getting to the point of this post...that teachers support school choice too! The AAE surveyed its members on a host of education reform topics, finding strong support for many of them, including extremely high numbers when it comes to school choice.

Take a look:

While the union-backed establishment sees school choice as detrimental to the teaching profession, AAE member teachers support varied policies that empower parents to choose the learning environment best suited for their child:
78% of survey respondents agree with a law in Oklahoma that provides a tax credit to individuals and corporations that donate to organizations providing "Opportunity Scholarships."
61% of those surveyed agree with an Arizona law that provides tax credit scholarships to special education students in traditional public schools, allowing them to attend the public or private school of their choice.

Pretty good numbers, huh? You can read their full take here, but it all just goes to show that the sides of the school choice debate are not divided between pro- and anti-teacher. Teachers, just like everyone else, have varied and diverse views. But it's worth mentioning that among teachers who are not part of the bureaucratic system that benefits most from maintaining the status quo, support is through the roof.

Just some food for thought...

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

PEFNC Chief Talks Refreshingly About School Choice in the Tar Heel State

2011-11-08T18:47:00.002-05:00

Last week the University of North Carolina Law School hosted a discussion titled The State of Education in North Carolina: Addressing the Constitutional Implications. There were a number of prominent names in the education reform and civil rights spheres on hand, including the following group:

Dean Boger, moderating
Matthew Ellinwood, North Carolina Justice Center, Policy Advocate Education Law Project
Dr. Terry Stoops, John Locke Foundation, Education Studies Director
Neal Ramee, Tharrington Smith, Education Lawyer
Darrell Allison, Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina, President
Mark Dorosin, Center for Civil Rights, Senior Managing Attorney

Each of the folks above has a specific area of expertise and significant experience discussion the plight of public education in America as well as ways to improve it, but one person in particular has been a longtime friend of the Federation and the Alliance, in a state where we're working to bring even more choice that already exists.

That man is Darrell Allison, the president of Parents for Educational Freedom in North Carolina. Always a man with a gift for eloquence in making the case for expanded educational options, Allison was particularly clear about why school choice is so important during his talk at UNC Law last week.

Here's an excerpt:

They don't give a rat's flip about the make and model of the school. They just want a school that works for them. So if it be a public charter school and they're knocking it out of the box in terms of performance, with a high concentration of low-income and free and reduced lunch children, they're knocking it out of the box—which we see a number of schools like that in North Carolina—and it happens to be 99.9 percent African American, they're okay with that.

Watch a clip of Allison at last week's forum below:

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Media Misses Mark on Indiana Voucher Coverage

2011-11-07T18:29:00.004-05:00

News last week that Indiana's Choice Scholarship Program enrolled nearly 4,000 students, the most ever by a first-year voucher program, was met with mixed coverage from media outlets across the Hoosier State.

Some newspapers attempted to hear arguments from people on both sides of the debate, others showed the objective success of the enrollment numbers, while others enlisted help of wire services that stick to the hard news aspects of the story.

The story on television, however, was not quite as balanced. Local Lafayette, IN news station WLFI TV gave coverage to the story when the enrollment numbers were released last Thursday, but only seemed to find time to interview those who complained of the money their districts were losing as a result of those kids getting a better education. Take a look at the video:

Putting aside the fact that their only interview is with a member of the education establishment (and there is no response from any reform-affiliated entity), they fail to point out the flaw in the argument made by Ed Eiler, the Lafayette School Corp. Superintendent.

Eiler decries the voucher program because it caused students to leave the district, thereby leaving the district with less money. But while there's correlation (i.e. the voucher program was instituted and students did leave Lafayette's district), there's only partial causation: while certainly some kids did leave their struggling schools for greener pastures, some left as a result of the continued slow process of improvement among their public schools.

The Indianapolis Star smartly grasps both points:

It's true that vouchers enabled more than 350 students this year to leave behind Indianapolis Public Schools. But IPS typically loses about 1,000 students a year, most of whom flee to suburban township districts. IPS administrators like to blame the district's problems on charters and now private schools that accept vouchers. The reality, however, is that many families see the need to grasp any option they can -- traditional public schools, charters or vouchers -- to avoid sending their children to IPS.

Read the rest of the paper's intelligent take here, and check out various stories from recent days to get a more full picture of the impact vouchers have had on Indiana families.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Former Education Secretary Urges Business Community to Spearhead Education Reform

2011-11-04T18:48:00.006-04:00

(From L-R) Former Education Secretary Rod Paige, CEG
Director Jerri Nims Rooker, and Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal.

ATLANTA - Former Education Secretary Rod Paige yesterday joined local and national education experts at an event which engaged business leaders in expanding educational options for Peach State families, highlighting the importance of improving education for Georgia’s economic future.

The event, titled “ROI: Education is Your Business,” was sponsored by the American Federation for Children, the Center for an Educated Georgia at Georgia Family Council, the Georgia Charter Schools Association, and the Georgia Chamber of Commerce. It featured remarks by Governor Nathan Deal and a strategy session hosted by and featuring prominent business leaders discussing education reform.

Paige urged attendees, which included several state legislators, to make education a primary focus of the Georgia business community. He cited lagging achievement statistics and a growing gap among demographic groups as hurdles to recruiting businesses and an educated, skilled workforce.

“No society can long survive, no culture can long flourish, no economy can long prosper, when it leaves behind as many children to poverty and ignorance as we are doing now in this great country," Paige said. "We simply must muster up the courage to face the brutal fact that how our education system is working is not working.”

Focusing on education in Georgia, Paige said the state’s large achievement gap between blacks and whites was equivalent to two grade levels.

"It is even below the national graduation rate," he said. "And like the rest of our nation, there is a 25-point difference between the performance of our African-American students and their Anglo peers. We have a problem.”

Paige, who served as Secretary of Education during President George W. Bush’s first term, said that that the keys to increasing Georgia’s economic standing are changing what does not work in our current public education system and allowing educational innovation through expanded education options for those who need them most.

He stressed that education innovation includes protecting the state’s ability to create charter schools, which has been threatened by the recent state Supreme Court ruling that struck down the Georgia Charter Schools Commission. This ruling makes it much more difficult to create charter schools in the state and threatens access to expanded educational options for low-income and minority families.

Governor Deal, who has expressed his support for a constitutional amendment protecting the state’s ability to provide educational options for students and is a strong supporter of Georgia’s special needs and tax credit scholarship programs, highlighted some of the ongoing education initiatives in the state, pledging his ongoing commitment to school choice.

“In our college and technical school systems, we are spending a tremendous amount of money on remediation," Deal said. "We need to shift our point of emphasis, and in the budget I present to the General Assembly this year, you will see that we are going to put a greater emphasis on the early years of learning.”

Jerri Nims Rooker, Director of the Center for an Educated Georgia, concluded the program by facilitating an interactive strategy session with the business leaders in attendance. Among the proposals was more significant corporate involvement in advocating for substantive and major education reforms and options. CEG plans to release a report to the broader business community summarizing key initiatives from the strategy session.

“We are in an age where we need big ideas, and we need [people] who are willing to lift their voices trying to make those big ideas come to pass,” Deal said.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Nearly 4,000 Enroll In Indiana's First-Year Voucher Program

2011-11-03T18:53:00.001-04:00

There's great news out of Indiana today: Nearly 4,000 were approved to participate in Indiana's Choice Scholarship Program, despite a truncated application window and this being the first year the program was offered.

We teamed up with a host of our allied organizations to tout the great numbers. Here's what we had to say:

“It’s terrific to see that so many families have taken advantage of this exciting new opportunity,” said Lindsey Brown, Executive Director of School Choice Indiana. “Students are already benefiting from this important program and the stories that we’ve heard from parents and principals have been very encouraging.”

Nearly 85 percent, or 3,326, of voucher recipients are on the free and reduced lunch program. Fifty three percent of program participants represent minority families, including 24 percent African-American and 19 percent Hispanic.

According to the DOE, 69 percent of students approved for vouchers are from metropolitan areas, 16 percent are from suburban areas, and 15 percent are from rural and town areas. Children from 185 Indiana school districts are participating in the program, with no school district accounting for more than 17 percent of the total scholarship recipients. The largest number of voucher approvals by city includes: 644 students from Indianapolis, 393 from Fort Wayne, 374 from South Bend, 139 from Anderson, 131 from Gary, and 121 from Evansville.

The final tally from the DOE finds that the level of participation in Indiana significantly exceeded what was seen in other states during the first year of voucher program implementation. For example, a similar program in Ohio brought in roughly 2,713 participants in its first year of 2007. The next highest first-year voucher participation rate came from the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program wherein 1997 a total of 1,994 students participated in the program.

You can read more about the enrollment numbers, see more specific demographic breakdowns, and hear from even more parents who have children participating in the program by clicking here.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

At the Century Mark, The Top 5 Blog Posts (So Far)

2011-11-02T18:21:00.012-04:00

This entry marks a mini-milestone of sorts for us, as it represents our 100th blog entry here on School Choice Now! Considering the following we've gathered for an endeavor that began just a few short months ago, we wanted to thank you for continuing to return to our blog, and we hope we'll continue to provide interesting and thoughtful content that will keep you coming back.

Now, with that...what have y'all enjoyed most? Some of the posts probably might not surprise you, but some will. It's not shock that you seem to enjoy posts about well-known figures, as well as posts that are passionate. You like hearing about breaking news, and stories that are more man-bites-dog than dog-bites-man usually do well, too.

But enough summarizing. Take a look at our list below of our Top 5 all-time blog posts (so far).

5. "Agnostic As to the Delivery Mechanism" (July 12, 2011)

What Was It? Inspired by a quote from Michelle Rhee, we made clear that our support was not for a certain system of education, but for an education system that works. We don't care what it's called or how it's structured as long as it works. The reality is that school choice is a proven reform, hence the commitment we have to expanding it across the country.

Why Was It So Popular? This was a line that stuck out to us back in the spring, before we even launched our blog. When Rhee said it at our 2011 National Policy Summit, it hit back directly at critics who try to make our fight a partisan or ideological one. In a world where every public school was great, we wouldn't need vouchers and scholarship tax credits. But until that day, we will fight to give kids hope.

4. BREAKING NEWS: Bipartisan Ohio Voucher Plan Passes Out of House Education Committee (September 21, 2011)
What Was It? After a summer of school choice successes nationwide, the first day of fall continued the trend with the passage of a means-tested voucher bill in the Ohio House's Education Committee.

Why Was It So Popular? We love breaking news, and we think you do, too. This was an especially exciting piece, because the vote was a relative surprise and the measure would have wide-ranging effects for low-income kids across the Buckeye State. There's yet to be a vote on the bill in the House, but we'll keep you updated on the legislation's prospects.

3. Join the Fight Against Special Interests in Wisconsin! (July 15, 2011)
What Was It? Considering the extent to which some of the political battles in Wisconsin have dominated the news this year, people must not have been surprised to see that the outcome of the summer recall elections would have an effect on education reform. We asked readers to join in the fight to make sure the reforms stayed in place.

Why Was It So Popular? We think you reacted to the call to action. Especially after the sweeping expansions that took place in Milwaukee and Racine, you, like us, didn't want to see those educational options rolled back. Thankfully, we were successful in preserving the school choice majority in the Senate - largely thanks to your help!

2. Think Different: A Lesson in Education Reform and Life, from Apple's Steve Jobs (October 6, 2011)
What Was It? Having appeared in just the last month, I'm sure you'll remember this one. The day after Former Apple CEO and technology innovator Steve Jobs died, we discovered that Jobs was in fact a strong supporter of school choice, and he decried the influence of special interests on education.

Why Was It So Popular? Besides the fact that Apple products have become part of the fabric of American culture, Jobs news was everywhere in the early October weeks. His death came the day after the announcement of the new iPhone 4S, meaning that Apple was on the minds of many. And most of all, we'd just lost one of the great technological innovators of our time, and it was interesting to see some insight into his views on things near and dear to our heart.

1. Booker Inspires Thousands at National Charter Schools Conference (June 23, 2011)
What Was It? On the heels of the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools' 2011 National Charter Schools Conference, we shared with you some of the most inspiring words from an ardent champion for school choice, Mayor Cory Booker (D-Newark).

Why Was It So Popular? Besides the fact that Booker is one of the most captivating speakers we've seen in our movement, we think people were attracted to the unifying, collaborative message that has become a hallmark of Booker's words. You could also watch the full speech he gave, as well as read some of the most interesting excerpts. We even posted a collection of the best quotes from his speech, things that serve as some of the fundamental tenants of the reasons why we care so much about education reform and school choice. Oh, and did we mention that Booker retweeted the post to his more than one million followers on Twitter? Yeah, that might have had something to do with it, too....

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Arizona Families: Interested in an ESA? Find Out How to Get One This Spring!

2011-10-31T18:25:00.002-04:00

Do you live in Arizona, or know families who do? If so, you should know that the application period for spring term Empowerment Scholarship Accounts (ESAs) is now open through Nov. 15.

What's even more pressing is the fact that there will be an information session for the program tomorrow, Nov. 1, beginning at 12 p.m. pacific time in Phoenix. Here's a bit more information for those interested:

Sponsored by State Senator Rick Murphy and House Majority Whip Debbie Lesko and signed by Governor Jan Brewer last legislative session, ESAs are currently providing 75 Arizona families with the opportunity to send their children to the school of their choice.

Parents have until Tuesday, November 15 to apply for an ESA for the spring term. For applications and more information about the accounts, parents are encouraged to visit the Arizona Department of Education’s website at http://www.azed.gov/esa/esa-spring-enrollment-information/esa-spring-enrollment-timeline/

An information session on the program will also be held this Tuesday, November 1, 2011 from noon – 3pm PDT at the Arizona Department of Education, located at 1535 West Jefferson, Room 417, Phoenix, AZ 85007.

Click here to get all the details about info session and the application period, click here.

Legislation for ESAs was passed in April, creating a first-of-its-kind educational option for Arizona parents with children with special needs. Despite efforts from special interests to halt the program, parental satisfaction in the early stages of ESAs has been overwhelmingly positive.

And remember, you can apply for an ESA in the spring term by clicking here.

Oh, and Happy Halloween!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

Charter School Expansion Taking Shape in Wisconsin

2011-10-27T17:39:00.001-04:00

Wisconsin had one of the most remarkable years when it came to school choice, and things aren't done for the Badger State.

Yesterday the Wisconsin Finance Committee advanced important legislation that would significantly expand charter schools across the state. Here are the details:

The legislation (SB 22/AB 51), which passed the committee on a 12-3 vote, creates a state charter school authorizing board that can approve new charter schools in Wisconsin.

The American Federation for Children, Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce, Milwaukee Charter School Advocates, National Alliance for Public Charter Schools, and Wisconsin Charter Schools Association, have advocated for the charter school expansion throughout the 2011-12 legislative session.

“We applaud SB 22’s authors for introducing this legislation and working with community leaders on strengthening it,” said Brian Pleva of the American Federation for Children.

The first AFC-supported amendment allows operators of high-performing charter schools that are located in school districts with otherwise low graduation rates to more easily create more high-quality public charter schools.

“We believe that when public charter schools like Milwaukee College Preparatory School and Bruce Guadalupe Community School have already demonstrated success,” said Brian Pleva of the American Federation for Children, “the legislature should be helping them create more high-quality classrooms for students.”

You can read the full release here. We'll be sure to keep you updated as the legislation advances.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG

BREAKING NEWS: Pennsylvania Senate Passes Sweeping School Choice Expansion

2011-10-26T18:38:00.001-04:00

About 15 minutes ago (and after over four hours of debate), the Pennsylvania Senate passed Senate Bill 1, which will create a voucher program for failing schools and increase funding for the state's Educational Improvement Tax Credit Program.

Here's a portion of our release:

The American Federation for Children—the nation’s voice for school choice—calls on the House of Representatives to follow the Senate’s lead and pass the plan, which is an amended version of Senate Bill 1, a proposed school choice expansion introduced earlier this year. The bill, which passed 27-22 today with bipartisan support, would grant scholarships to students in the bottom five percent of Pennsylvania schools and also increase funding for the Educational Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) Program by $25 million next year and an additional $25 million in 2014.

Championed by Sens. Jeffrey Piccola (R) and Anthony Williams (D), the legislation now moves onto the House for consideration. If passed in the lower chamber and signed into law by Gov. Tom Corbett—who unveiled a similar education reform plan earlier this month—it would give thousands of additional Pennsylvania students the opportunity to attend the school of their parents’ choice.

“The Senate, backed by the leadership of Sens. Williams and Piccola, has taken an important step towards greater educational equality for Pennsylvania kids,” said Betsy DeVos, chairman of AFC. “We’re grateful for their hard work, but now the responsibility rests with the House to make sure that it hasn’t been in vein.”

Read the full release here. This is great news for Pennsylvania families. Now it's on to the House!

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MAG