Toledoan Rhonda Willhight said it was always important to her that her children receive the best education, no matter the cost.
“I wanted them to have access to the best teaching,” she said.
With the Northwest Ohio Scholarship Fund (NOSF), which awards scholarships for private school tuition and expenses for homeschooling, affording that education is a little easier. This scholarship is available to students from kindergarten through eighth grade in Lucas, Wood or Fulton counties.
The fund’s mission statement reads: “Education offers hope. We believe that all children, regardless of their economic circumstances, deserve access to quality educational opportunities. We believe that parents should have an opportunity to choose the best school for their children. We believe that with choice comes a sense of ownership and involvement.”
“You just want to have an option as a parent,” Willhight said. “Based on where you live, you only have one option.”
After hearing about the program from a friend, Willhight applied and received $1,100 when daughter Loren was in the third grade and began attending Maumee Valley Country Day School.
Loren, now in fifth grade, still receives the scholarship. Willhight said the process is easy and NOSF provides answers to any questions parents may have.
NOSF is currently accepting applications for the 2015-16 school year. NOSF partners with the Children’s Scholarship Fund and awards scholarships to parents, granting them the right to choose where their children are educated — regardless of their income.
“Families should not be limited by income as far as their school choices,” said NOSF Executive Director Ann Riddle.
The amount awarded to each student is based on household income. The average scholarship for the 2014-15 school year per child is $1,121, according to a news release. The maximum amount awarded to students is $1,500, which can be renewed on an annual basis.
The guidelines for eligibility generally follow the federal free or reduced school lunch program. Parents are required to pay a minimum of $500 toward the student’s tuition each year.
The money is delivered to the school in three installments once awarded, giving those families who may not be satisfied with the school they chose a chance to transfer, Riddle said. Siblings can be included as well.
After being awarded a scholarship students must maintain a 90 percent attendance rate and remain current with their portion of the tuition.
The students who receive the scholarships can choose from 27 private schools in Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan.
“One school doesn’t fit all,” Riddle said. “Obviously all children are different, which is the beauty of children. … Different sites of learning are better for different types of children. This gives parents the opportunity to expose [their children to] different types of learning.”
Since 1999, NOSF has awarded $10.8 million in scholarships to 12,900 students. All funds are raised locally and matched by the Children’s Scholarship Fund, a national organization based in New York.
According to NOSF, 97 percent of its scholarship recipients have graduated from high school, with 95 percent attending some college.
NOSF is one of 27 partner programs nationwide assisting students by providing scholarships.
“NOSF is a wonderful organization that helps parents who want a private school education for their children,” said Andrea Puhl, principal of St. Aloysius in Bowling Green, said in a news release. “As a result of their scholarships, we are able to spread our tuition assistance even further.”
The deadline to apply for a scholarship is May 29. For more information, visit www.nosf.org or call (419) 720-7048.
