Education

The Ohio Catholic School Accrediting Association (OCSAA) is pleased to welcome Amanda Ooten as its new Director, starting August 18, 2025. Amanda most recently served as a vice principal at Incarnation Catholic School, the second-largest K-8 school in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and has also worked as a teacher and department chair at a Catholic high school. She is committed to ensuring the accreditation process serves the needs of our schools and acts as a catalyst for growth and renewal. Listening to diocesan leaders, visiting schools, engaging with research, and collaborating with team members will guide her work.

Amanda brings a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience. She holds two Master of Science degrees in Education and Biology and is currently working towards a Doctorate in Education. She has served as a Special Education Director and has maintained databases with student information to ensure compliance with state testing, as well as with Jon Peterson Special Needs and EdChoice scholarships, as outlined in Ohio law.

OCSAA is situated under the Catholic Conference of Ohio, which is governed by the Catholic Bishops of Ohio.

Following the ruling of a Franklin County judge on the EdChoice program, Brian Hickey, executive director for the Catholic Conference of Ohio released the following statement:

“We remain confident the EdChoice program will prevail in the appeals process. Ensuring EdChoice scholarships for students is a matter of social justice, as it allows for equal opportunities for all of Ohio’s children. It is also sensible public policy, encouraging a more robust education system for families that ultimately benefits society and the common good.

The Catholic Church will continue to advocate for and defend programs that support parents as the primary educators of their children and enable them to select a school that best suits their child’s needs. We are proud that Catholic schools in Ohio continue to flourish with ethnic and racial diversity while providing a rich spiritual and intellectual environment. Catholic schools, like other chartered nonpublic schools in Ohio, work closely with the Department of Education and Workforce to adhere to state chartering requirements, including operating standards, teacher licensing, state audits and approved testing."

The Catholic Conference of Ohio testified in the Senate Education Committee as an interested party for House Bill 96, the Operating Budget. CCO shared the pro-family benefits of school choice and statistics on Catholic schools, particularly enrollment increases among African American and Hispanic students, and that students on Jon Peterson and Autism Scholarships have doubled since 2014. CCO asked legislators to expand Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid (DPIA) to chartered nonpublic school students to allow students from low-income families to “receive specialized reading and math interventions, mental health support, and other areas of integral development, no matter where their parents choose to send them.”

Act Now – click here for an Action Alert to ask your Ohio senator to extend DIPA to chartered nonpublic school students.

Ohio Senators are actively reviewing the State’s Operating Budget, as passed by the House. Now is the time to ask Senators to provide students living in high-poverty areas with the support they need to flourish, regardless of what school they attend.

Catholic schools have historically welcomed students of all backgrounds, with a special focus on those facing economic challenges. Ask your Senator to expand support for these students by extending Disadvantaged Pupil Impact Aid (DPIA) to chartered nonpublic school students living in high-poverty areas. DPIA provides economically disadvantaged students with reading and math intervention, mental health support, and safety upgrades.

Click Here to Send Your Senator a Note >