House Dems Decry Missed Opportunity to Reform Charter Schools Before Next School Year

Criticize historic budget funding levels without added accountability, transparency

Special to The Truth

Members of the Ohio House Democratic Caucus last week expressed deep disappointment with the legislature’s failure to act on charter school reform before breaking for summer recess. In the state’s two year budget signed by Gov. Kasich on Tuesday, charter schools receive an historic amount of tax dollars, some $1 billion, with no transparency and accountability reforms tied to the funding. 

Many Ohio charter schools have come under fire in recent years for attendance rigging, potentially illegal leasing practices, bribery and conspiracy. Nationally, Ohio has become known as the “Wild, Wild West” of charter schools in addition to being ranked 49^th in the nation for quality and accountability by charter proponents, behind Nevada. 

In a review of over 4,200 state audits last year, the Akron Beacon Journal found that “no sector – not local governments, school districts, court systems, public universities or hospitals – misspends tax dollars like charter schools in Ohio.” The audits revealed $27.3 million at minimum was improperly spent by charter schools since 2001. Even the Fordham Institute, a pro-charter think-tank and Ohio charter school sponsor, believes Ohio “needs a top-to-bottom overhaul of its charter school sector.” 

Yet the state budget was stripped of charter school reforms, shifted more taxpayer funds to privately operated charter schools, and even dedicated additional dollars – $25 per student – for facility costs of online charter schools, even though online schools lack traditional brick-and-mortar buildings. 
 

Rep. Janine Boyd

Rep. Teresa Fedor

Wednesday evening, during an almost-four hour break in session, the House could have passed House Bill 2, a charter accountability and transparency reform measure that initially passed the House before being strengthened by the Senate and voted out with unanimous, bipartisan support. By failing to take any action on charter school reform before the summer recess, the Republican-controlled legislature has effectively stalled long-overdue reform efforts until after the beginning of next school year. 

Here is what House Democratic lawmakers are saying about the state’s failure to adequately regulate the scandal-ridden charter school system in Ohio: 

“As the national spotlight remains on Ohio for its failing charter schools, I am very disappointed that we are missing an opportunity to develop stronger rules for schools that are funded by tax dollars, but privately run. These rules deal with management, conflict of interest, and financial reporting – all of which are critical for creating public trust in how these schools operate,” said Rep. Christie Kuhns (D-Cincinnati).   

“Every school in Ohio, whether public or private, should have to play by the same set of rules and be held to the same high standards,” said Rep. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo). “The Republican-led legislature has allowed the “Wild, Wild West” era of charter schools to continue for too long. We need real reform now.”

“Our children can not afford to lose out on a quality education because the legislature refuses to hold charter schools accountable,” said Rep. John Patterson (D-Jefferson). “The same set of standards should apply to both private and public schools in order to ensure that students are being properly educated and prepared to succeed in the 21^st century.”  

“Private, for-profit charter schools are failing children and fleecing taxpayers,” said Rep. Janine Boyd (D-Cleveland Heights). “True charter school reform is long overdue. We need to inject a healthy dose of accountability and transparency into the state’s charter school system.”  

“Governor Kasich and his cronies have shown their true colors once again. Despite cutting funds to good public schools, and giving big increases to charter schools, they still failed to pass common sense reforms,” said Rep. Debbie Phillips (D-Albany). “Charter schools in Ohio lack basic oversight on the use of tax dollars, and Kasich's failed leadership will cost kids and taxpayers dearly.”

Copyright © 2015 by [The Sojourner's Truth]. All rights reserved.
Revised: 08/16/18 14:12:24 -0700.

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