Faces of Freedom

Our daughter was really struggling at the elementary level to even grasp the basics of what she was being taught. Even with the IEP assistance, she was falling further behind every year and falling through the cracks in the public school system. We were so fortunate to hear about the Succeed Scholarship and as a result our daughter has been attending Shiloh Christian School (this is her 4th year).

What a difference!! She still struggles because she has learning disabilities, BUT she is doing so much better and she is receiving more one on one help. We know she would never get that much help or support in the public school system. At Shiloh, she is not taking remedial classes, she is enrolled in all the same classes as her peers (Algebra I, Spanish, etc.) and she is performing.

Emma is adopted and has had to overcome so many struggles in life with school and a long list of other things. This scholarship has been a saving grace for her. She has to work so hard, but she is blossoming. I honestly don’t think I would be able to say the same things if we had kept her in public schools. This has made such a huge difference in her life and has changed the course of her life (for the better).

I know there are stories just like Emma’s…kids that are just shuffled around or not given the opportunity to reach their full potential. A lot of kids in public school that struggle academically are just given a free pass or put into easier classes. This scholarship has enabled Emma and others to be challenged, to receive much needed help, to bloom, and to set goals for themselves that they never thought possible. Taking away something like this would be a tragedy.

– Kassi, parent

We are Scott and Lindsey Cobb, pre-adoptive parents of Morgan Hover. Morgan came in to foster care two years ago. She was placed in the Bryant school district for one semester. She was lost in a crowd of 700 students, lonely, no friends (sitting by herself everyday at lunch and before and after school), struggling with her classes, etc… She said she was “the weird kid” that nobody noticed.

After that semester, Second Chance Ranch was able to place her in Arkansas Christian Academy because of the Succeed Scholarship. She is thriving. She has a group group of friends; she’s excelling in her classes, and she is co-captain of the cheerleaders. In May, she received The Knight Award for strong character and leadership.

This school has become family for her when she had nothing else. It’s only possible because of this incredible opportunity this scholarship provides for children like her who would have never had a chance to attend a private school. We are so thankful.

– Lindsey, parent

I am a mother of a son who attends Our Lady of Holy Souls due to the Succeed Scholarship. Without the Succeed Scholarship, my son would not have been afforded the opportunity to attend a select school that accommodates his needs. Lawson is currently receiving speech therapy four times a week and is on an IEP plan.

Being able to choose what school my son attends has given me the satisfaction of knowing that he is receiving not only the best care but the best education plan that fits his plan for learning and succeeding in school. I am a firm believer that these funds are needed for families and single mothers such as myself.

This opportunity has been a blessing to my son as I have seen him come out of his shell, communicate better, and overall excel in his academics. Before receiving this scholarship, my son was struggling in public school because there were not enough resources to accommodate his needs which forced me to seek outside therapy and help. The class ratio at his school before was too big for his learning style, and I felt that he was getting lost in the shuffle and over looked because of his disabilities and challenges that he is faced with on a daily basis.

This scholarship is a life saver and an advocate for all children to receive the best education in select schools that best accommodates their needs. I have never seen him this happy and excited about school. Giving kids the opportunity to be successful is important as they are the future generation of doctors, lawyers, teachers, scientists, etc.

Playing politics with education is very disheartening when I hear about the funds being jeopardized. I hope that lawmakers can think about the needs of children rather than the selfish acts. Thank you again for this opportunity to be able to share my success story of my future scientist.

– Brittney, parent

My son was in public schools from K-2nd grade. He is autistic. The last two years he was in public school he was not advancing although fully capable of advancing. The school did not have the time to provide the assistance he needed given the large classroom size. They would instead just sit him in front of a computer to play all day. When I confronted the school they just wanted to put him in a confined classroom. My son did not belong there.

We were fortunate to receive the scholarship, and my son is back to thriving. He is in a small private school where he is receiving amazing instruction. He has blossomed and done so well. He can beat any classmate in a “math showdown” because of his teacher just recognizing his potential and supporting him. He is in a school that loves and accepts him as he is. They meet him where he is and then help he stretch his abilities even further. He is achieved for his potential more and more every day.

– Randi, parent

My son Asa is a recipient of the Succeed Scholarship. The Succeed Scholarship has allowed us the opportunity to put him in a private school that can meet his needs on a level that our local public school could not. My son has Autism Spectrum Disorder, Developmental Delay, Sensory Processing Disorder, Anxiety and other issues, but is incredibly intelligent. Our zoned elementary school failed him miserably, and I felt completely lost at what to do. Then, our therapist recommended we apply for the Succeed Scholarship … and it has changed our lives.

The Succeed Scholarship allowed us to truly find the best place for our son, without worrying about how we would pay for it. It gave us peace of mind knowing our son is being cared for daily by people who truly love him and want to see him THRIVE.

Because of this scholarship, my son is a straight A student and still loves school. Because of this scholarship we were able to access a school with small class sizes and individualized plans for helping every child learn and grow!

Please do not defund this scholarship… it has changed our lives and so many other families like ours for the better. Thank you!!!!

– Chalsie, parent

Our son Arya was adopted from India four years ago. At the time, he was 11 years old and could barely speak, walk or complete kindergarten-level work. He has several disabilities that make learning a challenge for him in several ways; however, we saw that Arya was capable of growing and learning if he had the right environment and the understanding of the right community around him.

Our family was able to find a wonderful private school that would not only work with him, but develop a perfect ISP for him, as well as tutoring and providing speech therapy resources Arya. Arya has attended school there now four years and is able to do most required fifth grade level work.

The Succeed Scholarship enables our family to give Arya that school environment that he needs, with a small class size, one-on-one tutoring, safe classrooms where he has never been bullied. He is part of an amazing school culture that cares about him, gives him space to belong as he is and supports him in every way possible. The financial strain of Arya’s occupational therapy, physical therapy, medical bills, and counseling for him made it so that we were extremely worried about not being able to afford private school going into Arya’s fourth grade year.

Because of Succeed, we are able to keep him enrolled, watch him thrive, make friends, read, write and smile! He even placed second in the 100 meter dash of his first ever regional track meet his school competed in. The difference of four years in the right environment has made him unrecognizable from his first days here. This chance at his school has renewed our hope for his future, as a citizen of his community and country, to become a person who gives back all that he has received. He has dreams now he shares with us and is hungry for knowledge about the world. Every day makes a difference for him!

– Alicia, parent

Last year Trevor was starting 3rd grade and could not read; he could not even identify words like and or the. Math was basically the same story, Trevor could not count to 100 without help. He was a great student behavior wise — calm, quite and attentive — but things were just not clicking for him.

In second grade we found out he was dyslexic. We knew we had to push for help that public school didn’t have time or properly trained staff to give him. His second grade public school teacher literally told us she just does not have the time to help. Our friends told us about The Reform Alliance and the Succeed Scholarship. She told us it turned her daughter’s life around in less than one school year. We called Emmy, who was so sweet and gave us so much information. We felt like it wasn’t hopeless, and our son was going to get to feel like he wasn’t “stupid” or “a dummy” and not worth his teachers time. We hooked up with Immaculate Conception School who helped us, along with Emi.

On to third grade we went, new school, new teachers, new friends but still the “I am a dummy” attitude. The first month was tough because of adjustments. Then the first report card came out: It was near perfect! His confidence was boosted, his attitude about himself and his abilities was changed. After that it was one hurdle after another.

My baby was happy so we where happy. Trevor worked hard because his teachers worked hard with him. He wanted it for himself and to make us all proud. Fast forward to last week, our second week of fourth grade. Trevor got his book out on the car ride to school and told me he wanted to get some extra reading in. He read it flawlessly. It was a proud mommy moment that was 100% Facebook-worthy news. Trevor can now read books at his grade level and is starting to learn division. Without this organization and your funds Trevor would still not be able to read, write or do basic math. Thank you!

I have attached the picture I took last week of my little man reading. It’s truly a blessing!

– Jamie, parent

The Succeed Scholarship has allowed our child to develop the best of skills. He is thriving in a small school and small classroom! We are forever grateful for the countless hours that physicians, therapists and now teachers are dedicating to his growth! His future is bright!

– Ashley, parent

Our son was 3 years old when he was diagnosed with autism. Although the public school system offers therapy, there is not a program specifically designed for his specific needs like the program offered at Access Academy. We are so thankful for this scholarship because although we make enough to buy or send a lunch and transportation is not an issue for our family, we would not be able to afford the tuition on our own. It has given us freedom to make the best choice for our child and his special needs. He is 8 now and has made such progress. He is happy and that is the most important to us. I don’t think children can be measured by a single set of standards or that a specific accreditation program is going to be right for everyone. That is what we like about our school is the fact that it is flexible and able to work around what works for the child not how the child performs for that certain program. Thank you for reading our story and please know this family is truly fortunate to have found the best fit for us. Hopefully, this will not go away!

– Caroline, parent