Ohio Auditor of State Dave Yost calls for “learning-based” funding approach for e-schools
COLUMBUS (OH) – Today, Auditor of State Dave Yost opened a two-day charter summit by issuing a challenge to charter advocates and policy makers: Overhaul e-school funding. Specifically, Yost urged a major shift in the way the state pays e-schools—from funding based on enrollment and attendance to a modernized, competency-based funding model. This approach, already being piloted in a few states, would provide payments to e-schools when their students demonstrate learning rather than simply by awarding funding based on “time in a chair.”
“As Auditor Yost points out, online students can learn anytime, anywhere,” said Chad L. Aldis, Vice President for Ohio Policy and Advocacy. “Unfortunately, seat-time funding policies are not well-aligned to online learning. Competency-based funding would place the emphasis where it belongs—on student learning and mastery, rather than on whether a child is logged into a computer.”
Auditor Yost called on the legislature to rework the funding structure with the goal of producing an “educated citizen.” While putting forward several principles to guide the debate, Yost made clear to summit attendees that the experience and expertise of charter leaders would be needed in crafting a solution.
“Auditor Yost’s comments today help us move past the rhetoric that wasn’t getting us any closer to a solution,” Aldis added. “Too many students in Ohio’s online students are falling behind academically, Auditor Yost’s ideas provide a solid starting point for meaningful policy changes that place student learning front and center.”
Ohio’s full time e-schools enroll more than 35,000 pupils and represent the fastest growing part of Ohio’s charter sector. Independent evaluations by CREDO and the Fordham Institute reveal that, on average, e-school students lose the equivalent of weeks of learning each school year. Recently, Ohio’s largest e-school has been embroiled in a legal fight over its attendance records, and two smaller online schools have already been required to repay state funds due to discrepancies in estimated attendance and log-in figures.
For further comment, please contact Chad Aldis at [email protected] or 614-404-9309. Auditor Yost’s prepared remarks can be found here.
