Data Snapshot: Ohio

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.

In 2011, Ohio expanded two of its voucher programs and created a new voucher program for students with special needs, bringing the total number of school choice programs to four.  The Ohio budget, signed by Governor John Kasich, quadrupled the number of students that can participate in the EdChoice Program, increased the size of voucher scholarships in the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program, and created the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship.

2011 Results

•  Number of School Choice Programs: 4
• Total Number of Students: 23,975
• Total Number of Participating Schools: 594
• Total Expenditures: $122,600,000

Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program

A means-preferenced voucher program that serves students living in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District.  Expansion in 2011 brought the scholarship amounts up to $4,250 for students in grades K-8 and $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 voucher program for autistic students is now one of two voucher programs in the state tailored 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 2011 expansion to the EdChoice Program, a failing schools voucher, increases the number of scholarships available to 30,000 in the 2011-12 school year and 60,000 in the 2012-13 school year.  In addition, student eligibility was expanded to include a second definition of low-rated schools.

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

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

2012 Outlook

Ohio will have four active voucher program in 2012 with the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Program expected to begin in the fall.

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