Today, ExcelinEd, a leading national education organization, released an analysis that finds continuing shortfalls in meeting the facility needs of Ohio charter schools. According to their analysis, Ohio currently meets just 52 percent of charter school facility needs. Charters must cover the other half of those expenses—for example, paying for rent, maintenance, and utilities—by dipping into operational funds that are meant for classroom instruction.
“Securing adequate facilities remains one of the biggest challenges facing Ohio charter schools,” said Chad Aldis, vice president for Ohio policy at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute. “Unlike traditional districts, public charter schools have never had access to the state’s generous school construction grant program, and they receive no local tax support for capital improvements. The lack of sufficient facility resources disadvantages charters seeking to expand their capacity and create exceptional learning environments.”
Matthew Joseph, ExcelinEd’s senior policy advisor for education funding, said, “Our Ohio analysis reflects what we find in many states across the country: Public charter schools are forced to use instructional funding to pay for basic facilities, unlike their traditional counterparts. This creates an un-level playing field for students, teachers, and families. We are proud to partner with state-based advocates like Fordham to shine the light on these continued disparities and push for fair funding for all students.”
In 2021, an ExcelinEd analysis found that Ohio met only 18 percent of charters’ facility needs at that time. To their credit, Ohio lawmakers have since increased the per-pupil facility allowance for charter schools, helping to explain the improvement in the latest study. To make further progress, the paper offers several policy recommendations for Ohio lawmakers, including:
- Provide charters with easier access to unused district buildings;
- Create a credit-enhancement program that reduces charters’ financing costs;
- Make charters eligible for state construction grants;
- Maintain a strong per-pupil facility allotment that covers inflation and enrollment growth.
“Ohio has cut the charter facilities gap thanks to the increased per-pupil facilities aid passed in last year’s state budget,” Aldis added. “But more work is still needed to ensure that charter schools receive support sufficient to cover the costs of purchasing and operating a suitable facility. With additional policy measures, charters will be able to better serve students, while also meeting the growing demand for quality school options.”
The full report, Building for Success in Ohio 2024: Measuring How Well Ohio is Meeting Charter School Facility Needs, is available here.
