Your "Local Sunday Newspaper" Seven Days a Week!

Education

School Voucher Programs Changing Student Lives

Posted: 12/21/2011

Ohio’s EdChoice program is proving to be a win-win with public schools and voucher students.

(NAPSI)—Five years ago, Walter Woodard was like many middle school students in Ohio. He earned Cs, Ds and an F, and teachers said he was a constant behavior problem.

“They wanted me to put him on medication, but the problem was he was just bored and wasn’t challenged,” said Walter’s mom, Traci Woodard, of Groveport, Ohio. “In public school he was just a number and really didn’t get the attention he needed.”

Today, Walter’s life is a completely different story. He is one of the more than 13,000 Ohio students who are enrolled in private school thanks to a voucher program enacted in 2005 that gives scholarships to children in chronically failing schools. It allows them to transfer to the private school of their choice.

Walter, 16, is now a sophomore at Tree of Life Christian School, makes good grades and wants to pursue a career as a motivational speaker. “They encourage me and help me to see there are so many things I can do,” he said. “It has helped me grow so much in a positive way.”

Walter’s mom attributes the change to the smaller school with more caring teachers. And she says it shows that voucher programs do work.

Evidence shows Walter is not the only one who benefits. A new report released by The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice reviewed 10 “gold standard” research studies that evaluated school voucher programs during the last 20 years. Nine of those 10 studies showed that vouchers contributed to academic improvements for most students who used them—such as Walter. Nineteen other studies included in the Friedman report looked at voucher effects on public schools; 18 of those (plus another study released this summer) found vouchers improve public schools as well.

The report, “A Win-Win Solution: The Empirical Evidence on School Vouchers,” reviewed studies including research conducted by Harvard University, Stanford University, Cornell University, Princeton University and the Federal Reserve Bank, among other respected research institutions.

School voucher programs allow families to use a portion of the tax money already allocated for their child’s education and redirect it to pay for tuition at the private school of their choice.

With vouchers, public schools feel competition to improve, according to Greg Forster, a senior fellow with The Friedman Foundation who wrote the “Win-Win” report.

Helping Struggling Students To Succeed - (NAPSI) Posted: 12/8/2011

Educating Adults - (NAPSI) Posted: 12/8/2011

Growth Starts At The STEM - (NAPSI) Posted: 12/8/2011

More States Embrace School Choice - (NAPSI) Posted: 12/8/2011

4-H Makes Science Accessible For Kids - (NAPSI) Posted: 12/8/2011

Alliance Awards $293,000 In Scholarships To College-Bound Students - (NAPSI) Posted: 12/8/2011

Working Full-Time, Going To School And Exhausted? It’s Worth It! - (NAPSI) Posted: 12/8/2011

Gripping the Realities of Graduate School - (NewsUSA) Posted: 11/16/2011

Balancing Higher Education as an Adult - (NewsUSA) Posted: 11/16/2011

Time-Saving Solutions to Finish Your College Degree - (NewsUSA) Posted: 11/16/2011

Does Your Child's School Make the Grade? - (NewsUSA) Posted: 11/16/2011

Balancing Act: Tips for Juggling the Responsibilities of Work and School - (NewsUSA) Posted: 11/16/2011

DeVry University Seniors Learn There's Value in Pro Bono Work - (NewsUSA) Posted: 11/16/2011

The GRE Revised General Test Debuts In August - (NewsUSA) Posted: 11/0/2011

Summer Brain Drain Affecting America's Graduation Rates - (NewsUSA) Posted: 11/16/2011

Lessons in Retention: Parents Can Help Young Minds Learn at Home - (NewsUSA) Posted: 11/16/2011

Create a Love of Books: How to Help Your Child Become an Avid Reader - (NewsUSA) Posted: 11/16/2011

Seniors at DeVry University Tackle Real Business Needs - (NewsUSA) Posted: 11/16/2011

The Independent Option - (NAPSI) Posted: 10/18/2011

Trend Spotting: Beyond The Basics - (NAPSI) Posted: 10/18/2011

Americans Flunk Quiz On Today’s College Students - (NAPSI) Posted: 10/18/2011

4-H Revolutionizes Youth Robotics - (NAPSI) Posted: 10/18/2011

Three Ways To Cope With Back-To-School Stress - (NAPSI) Posted: 10/18/2011

Going Away To School Made Easier - (NAPSI) Posted: 9/21/2011

Free Educational Resource - (NAPSI) Posted: 9/21/2011

Giving—To Help Education - (NAPSI) Posted: 9/21/2011

Better Educating Young Men Of Color - (NAPSI) Posted: 9/21/2011

Campaign Seeks Volunteer Readers, Tutors - (NAPSI) Posted: 9/21/2011

Upgrading your Back-to-School Experience This Year - (NAPSI) Posted: 9/21/2011

Job Requirements: Social Intelligence and Transdisciplinarity - (NAPSI) Posted: 9/7/2011

Combating The High School Dropout Rate - (NAPSI) Posted: 9/7/2011

A Win-Win - (NAPSI) Posted: 7/6/2011

Medical Education For The Future - (NAPSI) Posted: 7/6/2011

School Breaks Offer Learning Opportunities - (NAPSI) Posted: 7/6/2011

4-H Youth Fit For The Future - (NAPSI) Posted: 6/8/2011

Create a Love of Books: How to Help Your Child Become an Avid Reader - (NewsUSA) Posted: 5/19/2011

Help Your Kids Re-focus on School - (NewsUSA) Posted: 5/19/2011

Should I Go Back to School? - (NewsUSA) Posted: 5/19/2011

What Students Need To Know About The SAT And ACT - (NAPSI) Posted: 4/29/2011

Digital Tools Are Key For Today’s Busy College Students - (NAPSI) Posted: 4/29/2011

Increasing Graduation Rates Through Technology - (NAPSI) Posted: 4/29/2011

Financing Your Future - (NAPSI) Posted: 4/29/2011

When Your Student Comes Home - (NAPSI) Posted: 3/31/2011

Will to Win: Merck Scholarship Supports Students’ Ambitions - (NAPSI) Posted: 3/11/2011

Scholarship Plan Offers Substitute To “Race To The Top” - (NAPSI) Posted: 2/18/2011

Is Your Child Learning Disabled? You’re Not Alone If You’re Confused - (NAPSI) Posted: 1/21/2011

American Teens Are Asking For A Challenge - (NAPSI) Posted: 1/21/2011

Youth Engineer Success Through Growing 4-H Robotics Program - (NAPSI) Posted: 1/21/2011

Put A Dent In Your College Bills With These Federal Tax Breaks - (NAPSI) Posted: 1/7/2011

Give The Love Of Reading - (NAPSI) Posted: 1/7/2011

Brain Power Improvers - (NAPSI) Posted: 1/7/2011

Kids Don’t Need To Take A Vacation From Learning - (NAPSI) Posted: 12/29/2010

Teachers Paying For Class Supplies - (NAPSI) Posted: 12/3/2010

Online Community Encourages Kids’ Creativity - (NAPSI) Posted: 12/3/2010

4-H Youth: A Revolutionary Force in Science - (NAPSI) Posted: 11/12/2010

Adding Up To Math And Science Success - (NAPSI) Posted: 11/12/2010

“Brain Fitness” Exercises Accelerate Learning - (NAPSI) Posted: 10/15/2010

Tips To Help Eliminate Homework Hassles - (NAPSI) Posted: 10/15/2010

Mentoring Vital To Nurturing Future Female Scientists - (NAPSI) Posted: 10/15/2010

Five Simple Tips To Successful Fundraising - (NAPSI) Posted: 10/15/2010

Student STEM Competition Sparks Creativity - (NAPSI) Posted: 10/15/2010

Smart Ways To Get The Most Financial Aid For College - (NAPSI) Posted: 10/15/2010

SAT/ACT Studying Tips - (NAPSI) Posted: 10/15/2010

Tips On Paying For A Priceless Education - (NAPSI) Posted: 9/17/2010

Jump-Starting Your Child's School Year Can Be Child's Play - (NAPSI) Posted: 9/17/2010

Online Education Puts Nurses on the Right Track - (NewsUSA) Posted: 9/7/2010

The Academic Journey to Success -- Helpful Strategies for School Transitions - (NewsUSA) Posted: 9/7/2010

Hands-On Learning Fun At Home - (NAPSI) Posted: 8/19/2010

Community College: A Gateway To A Career - (NAPSI) Posted: 8/5/2010

Video Games Can Teach, If Kids Will Play - (NewsUSA) Posted: 7/29/2010

Savvy Skills For Shopping School Supplies - (NAPSI) Posted: 7/21/2010

Survey Reveals The Positive Impact Teachers Have On Students' Lives - (NAPSI) Posted: 7/21/2010

Vacations From School Can Be Learning Opportunities - (NAPSI) Posted: 7/14/2010

Help For College-Bound Students - (NAPSI) Posted: 6/21/2010

Reading For Success - (NewsUSA) Posted: 5/3/2010

About The Natomas Messenger | Copyright Notice
The Natomas Messenger | Paul V. Scholl, Publisher
Mailing Address: 7405 Greenback Lane, #129 | Citrus Heights, CA 95610-5603
Email: publisher@NatomasMessenger.com | Site Designed and Hosted by TheSiteBarn.com

View PDF files of Back Issues