Charter-school laws could be much better

When Ohio first authorized charter schools almost two decades ago, children who had been failed by traditional public schools at last had another option. Public charter schools, it was said, would be free of some of the restrictions, allowing teachers and school leaders to implement innovative approaches to learning.

Today, charter-school proponents and critics agree on one thing: The laws authorizing public charter schools in Ohio are too weak. Despite individual charter schools that have succeeded, charter schools in Ohio as a whole have not.

Ohio has an opportunity in the next two months to greatly improve its charter-school laws. Public dollars and public confidence are at stake.

A bipartisan coalition of legislators is proposing significantly stronger oversight, building on legislation proposed by Gov. John Kasich and approved by the Ohio House. Recently, the Columbus Partnership was proud to join a press conference in support of Senate Bill 148 introduced by Sens. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, and Tom Sawyer, D-Akron. Encouragingly, supporters included Democratic and Republican legislators, the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, Philanthropy Ohio, and KidsOhio.org.

There was strong bipartisan agreement that Ohio badly needs to improve the academic and fiscal performance of its public charter schools. Under current law, too many public charter schools have opened without having to demonstrate competence in academic leadership and financial management. That’s why many of these schools fail, while others limp along with high rates of switching schools and mediocre academic performance. Current law also permits many mediocre schools to add schools with little critical review of their capacity. And the Ohio Department of Education lacks the authority and staff to enforce charter-school laws.

(Read more at the Dispatch)

Ohio Senate leads on reform

A charter-school-reform bill introduced in the Ohio Senate Wednesday is a marked improvement over a similar measure in the House. Lawmakers should ensure that the bill that eventually is sent to the governor incorporates the rigor of the Senate version.

Senate Bill 148 not only strengthens important provisions that have been watered down in House Bill 2, but enjoys bipartisan support.

The primary sponsor, Senate Education Chairwoman Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, has stood fast for school reforms despite pushback from those in her party beholden to for-profit charter-school operators, some of whom are major campaign contributors. In this bill, she stands up for taxpayers by insisting on greater transparency and accountability.

Lehner created an informal, bipartisan panel that spent months reviewing the changes needed to rid Ohio’s charter-school system of conflicts of interest and a lack of accountability.

What resulted was a strong bill co-sponsored by Lehner and Democratic state Sen. Tom Sawyer of Akron. Senators who showed their support by attending a press conference included Senate minority leader and Democrat Joe Schiavoni of Boardman and Republicans Frank LaRose of Copley and Shannon Jones of Springboro.

Also showing their support were state Reps. Kristina Roegner, R-Hudson, and John Patterson, D-Jefferson, and Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper.

(Read more at Dispatch)

Ohio Senate bill tackles charter school reform

The spotlight on charter school reform is about to shine in the Senate.

The Senate version of charter school reform goes further than a bill that passed the House last month, requiring operators to provide more detailed financial reports and placing tighter controls on online e-schools.

Sen. Peggy Lehner, R-Kettering, has held months of meetings with an informal group of state education officials and top charter school advocates to craft a wide-ranging bill that she called the most comprehensive changes to charter school law in 15 years.

It is a law that has been sharply criticized in recent years, including studies commissioned by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, which sponsors 11 charter schools in Ohio, that showed charter students in Ohio are getting less education than those in traditional schools.

Ohio charter school laws are too loose, Lehner said. “We failed to put up the sort of guardrails that would ensure responsible governance.”

(Read more at the Disptach)

Reforms of public charter schools in Ohio need to go much further

As outlined in this news- paper’s April 4 editorial “Charter reform bill falls short of the goal of full transparency,” financial disclosure and accountability for public charter schools is critical. My organization, the Ohio 8 Coalition, suggests that Ohio House Bill 2 go further in two specific ways.

First, it should require all charter school operator financial records to be publicly audited and disclosed. Accountability for the millions of public tax dollars sent to charter schools is now lost once given to the operator. Traditional public schools have at least two audits each year. Why set up a separate fiscal accountability system for public charter schools that have the same charge and responsibility on behalf of our kids?

The status of private operators should not exempt them from being accountable to the public, and in fact, such a relationship should demand accountability as a part of doing business with Ohio taxpayers.

And second, we suggest requirements are established that prohibit a charter school from reopening under a new name with the same sponsor, operator, board, or treasurer. Under current law, charter schools that close under a definition other than “permanent closure” are exempt from the limitations on reopening. In order to ensure that poorly performing charter schools that have closed for any reason do not reopen without making major administrative changes, it is critical that we clarify the language of the law in this way.

(Read more at Vindy.com)

Charter-school director reimbursing funds again

Last year, we told you about the executive director of Zenith Academy who funneled $12,425 of his own money to the charter school to resolve an accounting error in 2011.

When Ashfaq Tashfeen asked the board to reimburse him for the payment — which it did — the board made the same overpayment again, according to a 2014 state audit. Ultimately, the state auditor’s office issued a finding for recovery against Tashfeen for $12,425, which he repaid to the academy’s operating fund.

Under a state audit released yesterday, the auditor’s office issued a finding for recovery against a former employee who was paid $2,600 after his contract expired. Once again, Tashfeen used his own money to repay the $2,600 in February.

(Read more at the Dispatch)

Auditor says the former School Superintendent and a former School Treasurer owe taxpayers even more money

The Ohio Auditor says the former School Superintendent and a former School Treasurer owe taxpayers even more money. Ohio Auditor of State Dave Yost issued another report today on Lisa Hamm and Stephanie Millard, who used to run a charter school called “Cincinnati College Preparatory Academy.” This is the latest audit of CCPA, and it covers the 2011-2012 school year.

The audit says between them, Hamm and Millard owe the state more than $75,000 for allegedly using public money for expenses at the Hard Rock Café, Jeff Ruby's Steakhouse, and a place called Swim Outlet, among others. This is on top of more than $500,000 in allegedly misspent tax dollars during several prior years, identified in a previous audit.

Both Hamm and Millard have pled guilty to criminal charges and were fired.

The auditor says Hamm is on house arrest and Millard received probation.

(Read More at Local 12.com)