Ohio Expands School Voucher Options

Giving families an escape from the holding pens

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Up to 2,000 Ohio kindergartners from low-income families will be able to use state vouchers for private-school tuition this fall, thanks to a provision in the state budget approved last month.

The new income-based program, which is taking applications until July 31, expands on the existing EdChoice voucher program. That program can be used only by children who would otherwise have gone to public schools with low state test scores.

It also is Ohio's fifth voucher program, putting the state ahead of all others in the number of voucher options available to parents, according to the American Federation for Children. The Washington, D.C.-based group advocates for school choice and monitors voucher programs nationwide.