Ryan and Brown legislation would increase accountability in Ohio’s charter schools

Staff report

Washington

U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, outlined bicameral legislation that would increase the amount of accountability, transparency and community involvement in Ohio’s charter schools.

They said it would help ensure a high-quality education for every child. Ohio is home to nearly 400 taxpayer-funded charter schools that educate approximately 123,000 students.

Ryan on Wednesday introduced the Charter School Accountability Act in the U.S. House. Earlier this year, Brown introduced the Senate version of the legislation – parts of which were included in the Senate-passed Every Child Achieves Act, legislation to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Reauthorization Act.

“Our children pay the price for the mismanagement of charter schools,” Brown said during a conference call.

“There is no doubt that Ohio’s current charter school system is a mess,” Ryan said. “Our children deserve better. I introduced the Charter School Accountability Act to increase transparency and oversight of the U.S. charter school system – the 123,000 Ohio students attending charter schools, and their parents, should never have to worry if they are getting the education they are owed.”

In July, the executive director of the Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Quality School Choice and the Office of Community Schools resigned after admitting to deliberately leaving out failing grades of online charter schools.

Ryan and Brown said the Charter School Accountability Act would:

Improve accountability by strengthening transparency and disclosure measures for charter schools. It would require both independent financial audits and public disclosures about important financial information, like charter documents, performance agreements between the school and its authorizer, the school’s program and mission, student discipline policies and processes, and annual student and teacher attrition rates.

Increase state educational agencies’ charter school accountability measures. The legislation would require that states have performance standards for charter school authorizers, data on charter school closures, denials of renewals, and canceled charters.

Solicit and consider input from parents and community members on how to implement and operate charter schools. The bill also requires that entities receiving federal funds submit plans and descriptions detailing community and parent involvement in the planning, opening and operation of charter schools.