Candidate criticizes charter schools funding

BOARDMAN — State Rep. John Patrick Carney, Democratic candidate for Ohio auditor, said he’s concerned the state is using public tax dollars to fund failing charter schools.

At a press conference today at the Ohio Education Association office in Boardman, Carney said the recent state report card shows $2.6 million in state funding moving from public schools with “A” rankings in Mahoning County to charter schools with a grade of “D” or worse.

“This problem has affected the entire state,” he said. “Money is being taken out of local communities and given to failing schools. That hurts everyone in the state.”

Carney blames his opponent, incumbent Auditor Dave Yost, a Republican, for not making charter schools accountable with public money.

Yost told The Vindicator last month that more oversight of charter schools is needed and his office is conducting a special audit that will include recommendations for reform. He also pointed out that more than half of all findings for recovery issued by his office have been against charter schools — even though he’s a school-choice supporter.

For the complete story, read Tuesday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com