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	*OACS NEWS UPDATES*
	OACS NEWS UPDATES
	Latest OACS News Update: February 3, 2012

	Catholic Conference of Ohio Releases informational Guides regarding the Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Questions and Answers Guide Summary Guide for Catholic School Administrators Combined Summary and Q & A

	School Voucher Bill (HB 136) is revamped. New limited version will be reintroduced early in 2012. [MORE] Representative Huffman's Press Conference on revamped school voucher bill Handouts regarding the revamped school voucher bill

	School Choice Tax Credit Scholarship Bill, HB 242, is heard in House committee Catholic Conference of Ohio Testimony in support of HB 242

	*OACS NETWORK*
	*WHAT* The Ohio Advocates for Catholic Schools is a network to maximize advocacy efforts on behalf of Catholic schools, their students and teachers. OACS is intended to create strong grass roots support within Catholic-school communities. OACS will complement the Catholic Conference of Ohio's lobbying efforts in education to protect funding and services for our schools. *WHY NOW* Education and health care make up the largest share of the state budget. A well-coordinated advocacy campaign in which Catholic school representatives at the local level convey the same message as Conference lobbyists at the state level is essential to promoting the value and cost-effectiveness of Catholic schools. *HOW YOU AND YOUR SCHOOL CAN HELP* For OACS to be an effective voice at the grass roots level, Catholic school supporters throughout the state will need to lend assistance. Everyone who volunteers will play a significant role. We are asking each Catholic school principal to appoint a school representative who can recruit a team of two or more individuals. The job of the school representative and cadre is to foster local relationships with local legislators. This includes facilitating a legislative visit at the school, and building a database of school supporters who are willing to follow through on legislative action-alerts. *HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED* Please contact Larry Keough, Associate Director, Department on Education, Catholic Conference of Ohio. 614-224-7147. lkeough@ohiocathconf.org
	*BACKGROUND* Parents—the first and most important educators—have a fundamental right to choose the education best suited to the needs of their children, including public, private and religious schools. Government, through such means as tax credits and publicly funded scholarships, should help provide resources for parents, especially those of modest means, to exercise this basic right without discrimination. Over the years, the Ohio General Assembly has provided tax-supported assistance for pupils attending Catholic and other chartered nonpublic schools. Ohio’s elected officials have allocated funds for resources such as textbooks, tutoring, bus transportation, counseling and psychological services, administrative support, computer hardware and software, and teacher training. The Ohio EdChoice Scholarship Program, Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program, and Autism Scholarship Program help make Catholic school education possible for families and students with special needs.
	*State Restored Partial Funding to Students in Catholic Schools* On June 3, 2010, by concurrent action, the Ohio House and Senate restored fifteen million dollars to programs that benefit students in Catholic and other chartered nonpublic schools. The restoration offered partial relief from several rounds of budget cuts during 2008 and 2009. The measure returns $10.5 million dollars to the Auxiliary Services Program and $4.5 million dollars the Administrative Cost Reimbursement Program. Both programs were reduced last year. The restored funds will make it possible for many schools to secure remedial teachers, counseling services, textbooks, and computer software for students during this current school year.
	*TALKING POINTS ON STATE FUNDING FOR CATHOLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS* *Catholic schools save Ohio taxpayers billions of dollars.* The average cost to educate a student in a public school is $10,000. For every $900 Ohio invests to educate a student in a chartered nonpublic school, it saves more than $9,000 in state and local taxes. Chartered nonpublic schools saved taxpayers $1.7 billion during 2009/2010 alone. *Catholic schools serve thousands of Ohio students every year* *(136,000 in 2009/2010)* *Catholic schools have a long track record of excellence.* Many have been in existence since the 1800s. Almost 100 percent of the students graduate. Over 90 percent of their students pass the Ohio Graduation Tests in reading, writing, math, science, social studies on the first try. There is a high rate of parent involvement and parent satisfaction. There is a long history of educating low-income and immigrant families in economically challenged neighborhoods. Catholic school students on EdChoice scholarships, who have been tracked by independent researchers, show steady academic gains, and these gains increase for every year students remain in a Catholic school.
	*LEGISLATIVE CONTACT INFORMATION* Legislative Contact Information (includes school listings)
	*RESOURCES* OACS Training Manual Jon Peterson Special Needs Scholarship Questions and Answers Guide Summary Guide for Catholic School Administrators Catholic Conference of Ohio Page on Catholic Education Q&A Document to Assist Parents of Special Needs Children and Serve as a Resource for Catholic Schools Enrolling Children with Disabilities. Prepared by Larry Keough, Catholic Conference of Ohio Legislative SchoolVisits Hosting a School Visit with your elected officials Legislative Guide to Communicating with Elected Officials
	*LINKS* Catholic School Office, Archdiocese of Cincinnati Catholic Education Office, Diocese Cleveland Catholic Schools Office, Diocese of Columbus Office Christian Formation, Diocese of Steubenville Catholic Schools Office, Diocese Toledo Office of Catholic Schools, Diocese of Youngstown Ohio Dept. Education
	*Catholic Conference Department on Education* The Catholic Conference of Ohio's Department on Education serves those involved in Catholic elementary and secondary schools, religious education, youth and young adult ministry, and college campus ministry. Those meeting as groups on a regular basis include the Diocesan Directors of Campus Ministry, the Diocesan Directors of Religious Education, Superintendents of Schools, and Diocesan Directors of Youth and Young Adult Ministry. Each of these groups uses the Conference as a forum for planning, discussion, cooperative action and professional growth. STAFF CONTACT: Larry Keough (lkeough@ohiocathconf.org)

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