Family groups applaud ruling

By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Some school-choice advocates say the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold the voucher program in Cleveland could be the beginning of a push to expand the program elsewhere in the state.
"It's an excellent ruling. It empowers parents to take control of their children's education," said Gregory Quinlan, president of the Pro-Family Network of Ohio, a Christian family advocacy group.
Quinlan, whose Pro-Family Network has about 36,000 members statewide, said the network and other religious organizations will work to seek the expansion of the voucher program from Cleveland.
Chris Hartkop, the field director for the Medina County-based Christian Coalition of Ohio, another supporter of school choice issues, also hailed the decision.
"It's a good decision because parents will now be able to have true choices in education for their children," Hartkop added. He said the coalition has thousands of members across Ohio.
Created by the Legislature in 1995, the Cleveland voucher program gives parents $2,500 in public scholarship money for their child's education. Additionally, the program provides tutoring grants for an equal number of students who choose to remain in the Cleveland city schools.
According to court documents, in the 1999-2000 school year, 56 private schools participated in the program.
, 46 of which had a religious affiliation.
Court documents said that in the 1999-2000 school year, more than 3,700 students participated, 96 percent of whom enrolled in religious schools.
Sixty percent of the participating students were from families at or near the poverty line, court records showed.