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- This excellent piece utilizes the data and positive findings from the recent Urban Institute report on Ohio’s EdChoice voucher program to make the point that school choice programs are a promising means by which to reverse a documented educational achievement crash among young male students across the country. It means a lot to me that this analysis comes from an author who is a proud “beneficiary of school choice”, as touted in her bio. She is likely a “data point of success” in someone’s research report, but more to the point: she knows the whole story and we should listen to her. (The Federalist, 5/28/25)
- There’s no discussion of EdChoice in this piece, nor are the awesome Cristo Rey Columbus High School students featured in it likely part of any research report as yet. But when they are eventually included as data points of success in some future study of the power of private school choice in central Ohio, please remember their stories. Chris Pacheco Posadas is a graduating senior who earned a full ride scholarship to the University of Notre Dame through his exemplary work in the longstanding and prestigious Evans Scholar program for young golf caddies across the country. (You can read more about the history of the program here, including the list of Ohio winners for this year which includes a Columbus-area charter school student as well.) Posadas had no experience in the sport before starting with the Evans program, but tells the Dispatch that he hopes his success story reminds other young people that they can achieve anything through hard work and determination. “At the end of the day, it’s really just what you choose to do with the time that you do have and how dedicated you’re willing to be.” Awesome stuff. More? Okey doke! We also learn that Cristo Rey junior Me’Kiayla Phillips is already working hard in the Evans Scholar program with high hopes of earning a college scholarship next year. And she gives a lot of credit to her school for helping her strive for her highest potential. “Something that a lot of high schools don’t hold that Cristo Rey does hold is actually growing that character and showing that personal growth,” she says, with thoughtfulness beyond her years. “You can put two different 16-year-olds in the same job, and if one went to a high school where they don’t learn personal growth from their environment versus one that does, you can definitely see that personal maturity level there.” Yep. I see it for sure. The data don’t lie. (Columbus Dispatch, 5/29/25)
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