Charter schools in Ohio, post-budget
Charter schools were undoubtedly winners in the most recent state budget. Funding and policy changes will provide a huge boost to the sector and promise good things for the students attending Ohio charters. Toledo Blade editors opined in favor of Ohio’s new child-centric budget, including a positive reference to “deserving” charter schools.
Negativity from the usual corners
While some commentators did try to cast automatic closure changes approved in the budget as weakening charter accountability, Rep. Jamie Callender was quick to point out that the changes merely aligned academic expectations for charter and district schools. Minus the actual closure part, of course.
The future for charters is so bright…
But there is no time to rest, especially not when a new school year beckons. Fordham’s Aaron Churchill, feeling buoyed by several years of strong reforms in Ohio’s charter sector, laid out the case for expansion of high-quality charter schools in the state. Current operators should feel bullish about growing and out-of-state operators should recognize the newly unfurled welcome mat.
The national perspective on charter facilities
This week, the Charter School Facility Center at the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released a national snapshot of charter facilities funding in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Ohio does reasonably well, but has a lot of room for improvement.
Speaking of NAPCS
Emily Schultz, director for state advocacy and policy with the National Alliance, was interviewed for West Virginia public media on the topic of the value of charter schools as she sees it. Her theme was largely one of innovation and choice for families. She references Sciotoville Community School as a model that perhaps other rural communities might find valuable. Unfortunately, the final bill signed into law this month is likely too narrow, she believes, to bring much innovation to the Mountain State.
Not all the news is good
Epic Charter Schools in Oklahoma are under the microscope after an investigative report alleged enrollment inflation, funding irregularities, and lax authorizer oversight. The shadow of ECOT’s demise looms large over this story and many pundits will be looking for a similar outcome.
