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Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ohio graduate says school choice program 'saved' his life as vouchers boost graduation rates
A new study revealed the drastic benefits Ohio's school choice voucher program provided for students, specifically helping minorities, low-income families, males and struggling learners thrive in the classroom. American Federation for Children spokesperson Walter T. Blanks Jr., a beneficiary of the program, was two grades behind in school when his mother decided to take action. He revealed how the scholarship she found saved his life and turned his academic trajectory around during "Fox & Friends." "It was really hard growing up. I was in an educational environment that just simply did not work for me," Blanks Jr. told Ainsley Earhardt on Friday. "I was severely bullied, and the principal told my mom, 'If you just give us five years we'll have the middle school turned around and the high school turned around,' and my mom said, 'In five years Walter will either be in jail or in a body bag,' and so she found out about the EdChoice Scholarship Program, and it changed my life." Ahead Of Key Supreme Court Arguments, Here's Which States Have Passed School Choice Measures "It saved my life, and now I have the opportunity to continue that fight for other students." Read On The Fox News App The Urban Institute released a study this week indicating Ohio's Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program boosted long-term academic outcomes for beneficiaries in terms of college enrollment and graduation rates. The college enrollment rate among Black scholarship recipients surged 18%. The study also found that beneficiaries were more likely to enroll in college and earn a bachelor's degree than public school counterparts. Randi Weingarten Says Quiet Part Out Loud: Fears Ed Dept Closure Will Boost School Choice Funds The data also indicated that the college enrollment rate was 16% higher for scholarship recipients than for public school students and the college graduation rate was 8% higher. Banks Jr., who previously attended a school that was deemed failing by state standards, received a scholarship to a private Christian school, and that was ultimately the catalyst that allowed him to turn his life around. "It wasn't just the academics. It was a school that taught me to be a man of character, a man of great integrity," he said. "Not only was I getting the academic portion, but also the moral side of things. And so my parents trusted that when I went to this school that I would be raised in the right way, become a man integrity, which I have." "It was a massive blessing, not just for my family, but for countless families out there in the state of Ohio," he continued. "This report is very, very clear. School choice is working." Banks Jr. went on to continue his academic career by receiving a bachelor's degree in journalism and media production from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. He reiterated the need for school choice across the nation to give other kids the same opportunity he had to thrive in the classroom. "At the federal level, President Trump is a massive supporter of school choice across the country, which is why he supports the Educational Choice for Children Act, because every single family should have the option to be in the best educational environment that works for them and their family," Blanks Jr. said. "Children can no longer wait."Original article source: Ohio graduate says school choice program 'saved' his life as vouchers boost graduation rates
Fox News
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Ohio graduate says school choice program 'saved' his life as vouchers boost graduation rates
A new study revealed the drastic benefits Ohio's school choice voucher program provided for students, specifically helping minorities, low-income families, males and struggling learners thrive in the classroom. American Federation for Children spokesperson Walter T. Blanks Jr., a beneficiary of the program, was two grades behind in school when his mother decided to take action. He revealed how the scholarship she found saved his life and turned his academic trajectory around during "Fox & Friends." "It was really hard growing up. I was in an educational environment that just simply did not work for me," Blanks Jr. told Ainsley Earhardt on Friday. "I was severely bullied, and the principal told my mom, 'If you just give us five years we'll have the middle school turned around and the high school turned around,' and my mom said, 'In five years Walter will either be in jail or in a body bag,' and so she found out about the EdChoice Scholarship Program, and it changed my life." "It saved my life, and now I have the opportunity to continue that fight for other students." The Urban Institute released a study this week indicating Ohio's Educational Choice Scholarship (EdChoice) Program boosted long-term academic outcomes for beneficiaries in terms of college enrollment and graduation rates. The college enrollment rate among Black scholarship recipients surged 18%. The study also found that beneficiaries were more likely to enroll in college and earn a bachelor's degree than public school counterparts. The data also indicated that the college enrollment rate was 16% higher for scholarship recipients than for public school students and the college graduation rate was 8% higher. Banks Jr., who previously attended a school that was deemed failing by state standards, received a scholarship to a private Christian school, and that was ultimately the catalyst that allowed him to turn his life around. "It wasn't just the academics. It was a school that taught me to be a man of character, a man of great integrity," he said. "Not only was I getting the academic portion, but also the moral side of things. And so my parents trusted that when I went to this school that I would be raised in the right way, become a man integrity, which I have." "It was a massive blessing, not just for my family, but for countless families out there in the state of Ohio," he continued. "This report is very, very clear. School choice is working." Banks Jr. went on to continue his academic career by receiving a bachelor's degree in journalism and media production from Mount Vernon Nazarene University. He reiterated the need for school choice across the nation to give other kids the same opportunity he had to thrive in the classroom. "At the federal level, President Trump is a massive supporter of school choice across the country, which is why he supports the Educational Choice for Children Act, because every single family should have the option to be in the best educational environment that works for them and their family," Blanks Jr. said. "Children can no longer wait."
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
31-year-old Wisconsin man arrested on first degree murder charge, illegal firearm possession
BELOIT, Wis. (WFRV)- Officials are continuing to investigate a murder that occurred in the afternoon on Monday in southern Wisconsin after one man was arrested. According to the Rock County Sheriff's Office, the incident occurred on Monday as authorities from the Beloit Police Department and Rock County Sheriff's Office were sent to the 1900 block of Wisconsin Avenue in Beloit around 3:47 p.m. for a person with an alleged gunshot wound. Six teens arrested after strong-armed robbery at a Wisconsin high school The person was pronounced dead on the scene, but an updated release a day later said that the incident was 'isolated' and that no threat was present to the community. On Friday, an updated release said that 31-year-old Dennis Banks Jr. of Beloit was arrested regarding the incident. Banks Jr. faces one count of intentional homicide of the first degree via dangerous weapon usage and one count of firearm possession as a felon. Sheboygan man arrested for mistreatment of animals, reportedly abused dog to death Banks is set for an initial court appearance at 3 p.m. on Friday. No additional details were provided. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
