Charter schools in Ohio collect $1 billion a year from the state. The charters on average have lower performance than public schools. Although Governor Kasich is a big fan of charters and vouchers and has received campaign contributions from charter owners, others think charters should be subject to accountability and should have open records.
Even the state Auditor, a Republican, thinks that the legislature must increase charter accountability.
Will it happen? We will see.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Former (term limited at end of 2014 term) Ohio House Speaker William G. Batchelder has formed a new lobbying group. Among their first clients? William Lager, founder/operator of ECOT (Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow). From the Columbus Dispatch: “With an enrollment of more than 14,500, ECOT is now the state’s 10th largest school district, benefitting from an eight-year moratorium on new online charter schools. Of the $113 million it received in state tax revenue, $21.4 million went to two companies that Lager formed to provide services to the school.
Judy and Hawley, along with Batchelder, who was term limited at the end of 2014 and is serving as an adviser to the firm, have been hired to represent those companies – Altair Learning Management, which runs ECOT’s day-to-day operations, and IQ Innovations, Lager’s software firm.
In addition to Judy and Hawley, Lager also is represented by former state Sen. Jeff Jacobson and close Gov. John Kasich confidant Robert Klaffky. A few years ago such a move would have been banned, but a federal judge threw out Ohio’s “revolving door” restrictions on lobbying within a year of leaving the legislature.”
http://www.dispatch.com/content/blogs/the-daily-briefing/2015/02/02-16-15-charter-lobby.html
So yes, Ohio’s General Assembly is deeply entrenched in ALEC-informed legislation that is anti-public Ed. The general populace has largely been silent, having been convinced by propaganda that our schools are failing and “choice” is a good thing for schools. However, there is evidence of an “Education Spring” emerging. You see, parents believe “those” public schools are failing, but not “their” public school. The mama and papa bears of Ohio’s public school children are starting to wake up to the fact that this year’s PARCC tests are far more intrusive than those they have endured in the past. The test refusal movement is growing – thanks in large part to groups like OhioBATS who have established regional groups throughout the state. One can only hope that the newly captive audience will soon realize the interconnectedness of ALL these damaging anti-Ed policies that are harming our school children.
Thanks Diane and all your frequent commenters for being tireless champions of our beloved public schools!
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Katie,
Thank you 4 this information. OMG, how gross.
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accountability for charters could be a trap if it does not include a careful look at how the students are chosen and the rates of attrition. The special need percentages can also be a factor…..because charters are adept at emphasizing the positives, and convincing reporters not to get bogged down in “minor” details.
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What does accountability mean? Would it means more testing? The accountability measures for b&m public schools haven’t seem to been effective either. What is to be done?
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What does this accountability provide and how is it captured? Would it mean more testing? The backwards use of accountability in traditional public schools hasn’t seem effective, so it seem there’s a needed to shift (political and cultural) in values.
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If the Waltons gave Ohio state senator Peg Lehner, Gov. Kasich, and the Ohio GOP more money to regulate charters than, the charters currently give the GOP, to avoid regulation, Ohioans might see movement.
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