Rep. Boccieri: Charter schools in Ohio a bust for taxpayers and students

State Rep. John Boccieri (D-Poland) today decried the lack of results from Ohio charter schools in light of the Ohio Department of Education (ODE)’s release of unflattering school sponsor evaluations. The Mahoning County ESC was one of many sponsors that received an overall rating of “poor,” the lowest on the scale, while also earning a “D” for academic performance, an “ineffective” for compliance, and a “significantly below standards” rating for quality practices.

“These ratings show just how ineffective charter schools have been under the current law and what a financial bust they are for taxpayers and students,” Rep. Boccieri said. “Ohio spent $1 billion in the recent state budget— the most ever documented— on for-profit charter schools that cannot make the grade above the worst performing public schools. We have been far too flexible in allowing our sponsors to duck quality measures, conflicts of interest and performance standards.”

The ratings were overall unflattering, with 20 sponsors joining Mahoning County in the “poor” category, and only eight sponsors performing quality practices at any rating above “significantly below standards.” No sponsor earned the highest rating of “exemplary.”

The ratings were part of initial attempts at accountability measures signed into law under House Bill 2, effective February of this year. Sponsors that received a “poor” rating are subject to revocation of their sponsorship authority, however, they have the option of appealing that action.