OHIO Dems seek charter-school moratorium

Teachers unions are among the biggest critics of the charter schools.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Minority Statehouse Democrats are renewing a call to halt the expansion of the charter-school system in the wake of what critics say has been a dismal performance by charters in recently released state report cards.
& quot;We must stop this ... misdirection of our dollars, & quot; state Sen. C.J. Prentiss said Wednesday.
Prentiss of Cleveland and other Democrats called for legislative hearings on bills sponsored by Prentiss and state Rep. Kenneth A. Carano of Austintown that would place a two-year moratorium on the creation of charter schools -- also known as community schools -- and to evaluate the ones operating.
& quot;It is essential that we hold community schools to the same standards as traditional public schools, & quot; Carano said in a prepared statement.
& quot;They need to be held accountable, & quot; state Sen. Teresa Fedor of Toledo said.
Funds from state
Charter schools are free from some state regulations. The state will provide about $325 million to charter schools this school year to educate about 48,000 pupils, according to the state. There are about 1.8 million schoolchildren in the state.
The Coalition for Public Education, which has challenged the state's charter-school program in the courts, said it reviewed state report-card ratings for charter schools and that their research found 31.1 percent of charter schools were in Academic Emergency, the lowest category for achievement.
Also, the coalition, which includes teachers unions and the Ohio AFL-CIO, said their research found 11.5 percent of charters in Academic Watch, the second-lowest category.
Additionally, the coalition said its review found that about 25 percent of charter schools in the state failed to report information to the Ohio Department of Education.
Report cards released
Meanwhile, critics of charter schools say, public schools have been improving in the report cards, which were released statewide Tuesday.
According to the Ohio Department of Education, statewide, more than six of every seven public school districts and nearly four of every five schools made gains in achievements compared with last year.
About 94 percent of districts and 90 percent of buildings are ranked as excellent, effective or continuous improvement, the education department said.
Steve Ramsey, president of the Ohio Charter School Association, said charter schools should be compared with one another for improvement.
And Ramsey said there has been improvement among charter schools.
According to Ramsey, the percentage of schools rated Continuous Improvement went from 24 percent last year to 44 percent this school year.
Bills are pending
The charter-school moratorium bills are pending in the education committees of each legislative chamber.
Republicans control both chambers and with state lawmakers on summer recess, GOP leaders couldn't immediately be reached on whether the bills would advance before the two-year legislative session ends in December.
Tom Mooney, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, said the coalition will be taking their message across the state.
& quot;We're not taking 'no' for an answer, & quot; Mooney said.
The coalition's campaign for legislative approval of a charter-school moratorium will include letters to state lawmakers, paid advertising and direct-mail efforts, Mooney said.
This is the second year of Ohio's new accountability system, which measures current achievement as well as improvement