Join our speakers on the Statehouse lawn

Thousands of School Choice Supporters
Rally at Ohio Statehouse

Parents, Students, and Activists
Urge More Educational Options for Students

COLUMBUS – Thousands of school choice supporters will gather on the West Lawn of the Statehouse this Tuesday, March 22 at 1 P.M. to urge lawmakers to support the expansion of school choice options in Ohio. The rally will bring together supporters of all types of school options, including private schools, virtual schools, charter schools and home schools.

“Every child should have access to a quality education in Ohio,” said State Representative Matt Huffman. “I am committed to empowering parents with the freedom to choose how best to educate their children.”

Since the early 1990s, Ohio has been one of the national leaders in promoting school choice. In 1995, the Cleveland Scholarship Program was adopted by the Ohio General Assembly, in 1997, Ohio created a charter school program, in 2003, Ohio sponsored the Autism Scholarship and then in 2006, the legislature created a statewide EdChoice Scholarship—the first of its kind in the nation—to provide up to 14,000 vouchers to students in underperforming public schools.

Speakers at the rally will include: Lieutenant Governor Mary Taylor, Treasurer of State Josh Mandel, Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives William G. Batchelder, House Majority Floor Leader Matt Huffman, State Representative Bill Patmon, State Senator Keith Faber, Catholic Schools Superintendent Diocese of Toledo Chris Knight, Congressman Jim Jordan and families representing various school options currently available in Ohio.

The rally is hosted by a coalition to Empower Parents Through School Choice In Ohio in partnership with: School Choice Ohio, Ohio Coalition for Quality Education, PACE, American Federation for Children, Harambee Christian School, Columbus Torah Academy, Agudath Israel of America, The Foundation For Educational Choice and many individual private, charter, virtual and home school families.

For more information on the rally, visit www.ohioschoolchoicerally.org.

You’re invited to celebrate Ohio’s school choice options and rally in support of a quality education for ALL Ohio students!

Every school option available will be celebrated –– private schools (including the Ed Choice Scholarship Program, Autism Scholarship Program, Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program), community schools, homeschoolers, virtual schools and public schools—and then we will make a pitch for MORE school choice.

After the rally, you’ll have an opportunity to meet with your legislators to thank them for school choice and to tell them how it has impacted your life. Also, if you are not benefitting from having choices to educate your child, you can ask them for what you need.

BRING YOUR SCHOOL, BRING YOUR FAMILY, BRING YOUR STUDENT!

For more details, go to our RSVP page.

And for some great ideas on getting your kids and school involved, go here.

Every child is different – which is why families should have a variety of options when deciding how to educate their children.

School choice isn’t about raising one educational model above all others. It’s not about doing away with public schools – it’s about making them better, and giving families the freedom to choose the school option – public, charter, private, virtual, homeschool – that will help their children learn and grow.

Above all, it’s about reforming the system so that every parent has the freedom to choose the education that’s best for their individual child.

We need your voice to make that possible. Please let us know if you can make it.