Further, the evaluation suggested that the longer transfer students stayed in participating private schools the greater their achievement. Unfortunately, since the data gathered depended entirely on the voluntary cooperation of parents, the findings are suspect and no conclusion can be drawn from the evaluation s results. It allowed the Ohio Superintendent of Public Instruction to create a pilot voucher program in Cleveland. Up to 25 percent of the new scholarships each year may be awarded to children previously enrolled in a private school. Scholarship applicants are selected by lottery with priority going to applicants whose income is less than the Federal poverty level.
Second priority goes to families whose income is less than twice the poverty level.
Within these guidelines there is no income cap on participation. The approximately 30,000 K-3 students who reside within the Cleveland School District are eligible to apply to the program. Once admitted to the program, students may receive scholarships through 8 th grade. Over the next several months, the state increased the number of vouchers that could be awarded to 1,801 because it more accurately calculated the actual tuition amounts involved. Ultimately, all public school applicants were offered a voucher.