Ohio adds 2 charter schools to misconduct inquiry

COLUMBUS (AP) — The state department of education has expanded its review of an embattled charter school chain to include two additional cities amid additional complaints, a spokesman said today.

The Ohio Department of Education was already investigating a Dayton-area Horizon Academy after teachers there shared accounts in July of sex games, test tampering and other potentially criminal misdeeds.

Spokesman John Charlton told The Associated Press the state received additional complaints about Columbus and Cincinnati schools run by the same operator, Chicago-based Concept Schools, after that meeting.

One of the complaints was unsolicited, and the other stemmed from a department request that any issues at the schools be brought to the state’s attention, he said.

The company did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

Charlton said the complaints have been referred to the appropriate regional offices for further review.

“What we did with those complaints or allegations was we matched them up with the appropriate office at the Department of Education, where they’ve contacted teachers and others for more specific information,” he said.