MIDDLETOWN — More Middletown students applied for a state scholarship to attend private school next year.
Fifty-eight students applied for the first time to the EdChoice program, which offers scholarships from $4,500 to students from schools rated academic watch or academic emergency. That number is up from fewer than 10 first-time filings from the 2008-09 school year, according to the Ohio Department of Education.
Officials attribute the increase to more exposure. The Children’s Scholarship Fund of Cincinnati has focused on informing Middletown families of the EdChoice program, available to students from Rosa Parks, Highview and Amanda elementary schools for the upcoming school year.
Lisa Claytor, the group’s executive director, said the Cincinnati group held informational meetings, canvassed door-to-door and mailed 4,000 brochures.
“I think families, regardless of income, need to have the opportunity for school choice,” said Claytor. “Families shouldn’t be stuck in failing schools because of income.”
Barb Collie is using an EdChoice voucher for the first time to send her sixth-grade son to Middletown Christian Schools. She’s been paying tuition to send her daughter there since October.
“It’s wonderful,” she said of the school. “It’s like sending your child to church.”
With more than 13,000 applications statewide — up more than 2,000 from last year — the program drew closer to the 14,000 limit for Ohio, according to the state.
