The Results Are in: Hispanic CREO Releases its 2nd Annual STO Ranking Report

    LAKE WORTH, FL, August 02, 2013 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options takes out the guesswork for parents and corporations with its annual report rating Arizona's school tuition organizations (STOs) with over $100,000 in scholarships.

The "Grading Arizona's School Organizations" report ranks the STOs on a five-star criterion - five stars being the highest and one star being the lowest ranking. STOs are charitable organizations that provide private school scholarships to children in grades K-12. Corporate donations to an STO must be used for children from low-income families, children with special needs, or children in Arizona's foster care system.

Hispanic CREO evaluated and rated these STOs based on five factors:
- Percent of annual revenue awarded in the form of scholarships;
- Percent of scholarships awarded to students from low-income families;
- Percent of scholarships awarded to students from low-income and working-class families;
- Number of schools that a student using a scholarship can choose from based on an STO's rules;
- And whether or not an STO awards scholarships based on a family's needs or the recommendations of other families or contributors. Arizona law prohibits an STO from awarding a scholarship solely on the basis of a parent or donor recommendation.

"This grading system allows for greater transparency when it comes to funding," said Christina Martinez, AZ State Director for Hispanic CREO. "Hispanic CREO works hard to ensure that all low-income and minority children have equal access to quality education and the means to finance it. "

Students that come from low-income families are usually disadvantaged when it comes to quality education. Many are assigned to the school in the district they live in and sometimes that can be a failing school. Arizona's highly ranked STOs give these low-income students a chance to succeed academically elsewhere.

Hispanic CREO strives to help low-income parents understand their educational options and become strong advocates for their children. This report gives low-income families the power to grant their child a quality education that they deserve.

"Grading Arizona's Scholarship Organizations" is available at http://www.hcreo.com/Portals/115649/docs/report.pdf

The Hispanic Council for Reform and Educational Options' mission is to create awareness of the educational crisis that exists within the Hispanic community nationally by empowering Hispanic parents to become advocates for their children. Hispanic CREO believes that education is a civil right for every child in this great nation and by advocating for parental and school choice, it ensures a better future for our children.

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