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 Barnita James has two school-aged children. Donesha attends first grade at St. Vitus Catholic Elementary School through the Cleveland Scholarship Program. Barnita works full-time as a nursing home aide.
Years ago, Barnita’s adult daughter, Lashonda, attended St. Francis Catholic Elementary School from kindergarten through sixth grade.
"But after sixth grade I just couldn’t afford it. So LaShonda went to Cleveland Public Schools. Everything changed. She didn’t want to go to school. She didn’t care about homework. Then she dropped out in high school because she got pregnant."
"If she had stayed in Catholic school I think she would have excelled. I saw she was doing so good. She was in fourth grade but had a seventh grade reading level. But I just couldn’t afford to pay tuition."
"My oldest went through public school. I gave it a chance and it didn’t work. So, I’d prefer to do something different this time."
"When I heard about this voucher program I just jumped on it. I thought, this is a chance for my youngest child to go to private school."
"When she got accepted into the voucher program I was so happy."
"There is no way I could afford private school without the voucher program. No, no, no, no way."
"I’ve always thought positively of private schools. They would talk to me more about what is going on with my child. They would call me up more quickly if there was a problem."
"I hope the school will help Donesha advance. That it will instill the discipline and values I have at home. If you can help your child get advanced, than that’s what you need to do. I want what’s best for my child."
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