“Families and schools are becoming more aware of us,” says Michael Thomas, program director for Children First.

The number of applications for the grants jumped from 4400 in 2005 to over 7000 the following year, a 60 per cent increase. Thomas says that application numbers appear to be “healthy” this year as well, although he doesn’t have exact figures.

“Schools are our biggest cheerleaders,” says Thomas, noting that Ray Hendriks, principal of Rhema Christian School, is a big supporter and has promoted the Children First program widely.

Thomas is encouraged by the skyrocketing interest in the grants. “It shows the public how strong a demand there is for people to be able to choose the school that’s right for them,” he says.

Children First is a privately funded program that offers tuition assistance grants so that parents who could not otherwise afford it can choose an independent elementary school for their children.

“We do this because we believe all children should have the right to go to the school that’s right for them,” says Thomas.

The grants are worth 50 per cent of tuition, up to a maximum of $4000 annually, and are available to students until they complete grade eight.

The program is currently funding 1200 students in Ontario and 50 in Alberta, the two provinces where it is offered.

Thomas says that the number of new students who will be selected to receive the grants for the 2007-2008 school year depends on a number of factors, but he estimates about 200 could be chosen. If the number of applicants exceeds the number of grants available, a lottery process is used to determine recipients.

The application process for the 2007-2008 grants is currently underway with a deadline of March 31, 2007. For more information or to apply, see www.childrenfirstgrants.ca

Children First is a program of the Fraser Institute, an independent Canadian policy research organization.

In 2004, Children First received international recognition for its work and was selected out of more than 140 programs to receive the Templeton Freedom Award for Social Entrepreneurship from the Atlas Economic Research Foundation.