Lower state report card grades open the door for more charters and vouchers
Now that Ohio’s safe harbor provisions have ended, there’s more opportunity for voucher and charter school expansion. Cleveland Plain Dealer’s Patrick O’Donnell explains that “eligible areas for vouchers will double and areas where charter schools are allowed to start will rise more than 600 percent for next fall.” However, Fordham’s Aaron Churchill says not to expect an influx of charter schools. Because the challenged school district list wasn’t official until December, potential new charters will have very little time to complete all the requirements for opening a new school in 2019.
The school choice “draining money” myth
Yesterday, Choice Media announced the premiere of its new video, which tackles the myth that charter and private schools take funding away from traditional district schools. In the video, Choice Media’s Founder and Executive Director explains the “three blindfolds” it takes to believe the myth and gives a counter argument. Bowden argues that “the myth is meant to protect a billion dollar status quo, even when that status quo isn’t doing right by kids or isn’t doing right by a particular kid.”
Making e-school funding accountable
The Columbus Dispatch published an editorial this week in which they discuss how we can make e-school funding accountable in the Buckeye State. They discuss the Ohio Auditor of State’s recent report, argue that we should base some funding on student performance, and encourage Governor DeWine to follow through on his campaign promise to hold online schools accountable.
NCSRC releases natural disaster toolkit
This week, the National Charter School Resource Center released a toolkit that contains resources and examples that charter school leaders and administrators can use to plan and respond to the effects of natural disasters, including tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes, and more.
Charter schools in 2019
Carolyn Phenicie of The 74 published a piece this week in which she discusses her top education predictions for the new split Congress. Phenicie writes that although some democrats have promise to crack down on school choice, charter advocates believe that funding for charter schools will likely increase.
