After a year or more of wrangling, the Ohio legislature finally approved a bill to reform their scandal-ridden charter schools.
The bill passed with bipartisan support. Even charter school critics endorsed the changes.
The report in Cleveland.com says:
As we reported yesterday, the bill makes several small changes that, as a whole, will tighten operations of the $1 billion charter school industry that lags behind traditional public schools and is the subject of national ridicule, even from charter school advocates.
Among items adjusted or added to the final version on Tuesday are a “White Hat rule” that prevents private charter operators from keeping equipment bought with state tax money; a cautious approach to study, not adopt, a new way of rating schools; and modest adjustments to how ratings of charter school oversight agencies are calculated.
Still intact, with only minor adjustments, are changes designed to distance the often-cozy relationships between for-profit charter school operating companies and the school boards that govern the schools.
Charter supporters realized that the outrageous profiteering of a few well-connected charter founders had created a massive embarrassment for all the charters. In addition, charters are among the lowest performing schools in the state.
The Fordham Institute was a major player in developing the law, partly through its sponsorship of two studies that informed the debate — analysis of the academic performance of Ohio charter schools by Stanford’s Center for Research of Education Outcomes (CREDO) and a separate study by Bellwether Education Partners of what gaps Ohio had in its charter laws and support system.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
While I understand why this effort is a move in the right direction, does anyone see the source of their research as less than ideal? The Fordham Institute and Bellweather Education Partners are not exactly unbiased. What do our Ohio posters have to say?
Your observation re: Fordham and Bellweather are right on. The fact remains that public schools do not require the signing of student and family contracts, the inner workings of a charter school with their governing boards are not accountable to the public nor are they required to be as transparent to the public as are public schools, and charters still are allowed to play by different rules that can impact student selection and retention. Charter schools are an important weapon in the neoliberal Milton Friedman type assault on our democratic system of public schools. Think about the cherished words of these neoliberal types (Republican and Democrat) that relate to education reform. CHOICE – COMPETITION – VOUCHERS – Public schools are reflections of SOCIALISM – Public schools are a reflection of a government MONOPOLY.
Correction- oligarch monopoly. Oligarchs from Silicon Valley, Wall Street, and discount retail, commandeered governments in Wash. D.C. and in state capitols. The public’s only protection from oligarchs is a government of the people, by the people and for the people. In the U.S. we are witnessing American oligarchs snatching up national assets, just like their Russian counterparts, before them.
I am sure commenters on this blog that support rheephorm will answer the question—
If charters are just like public schools, and in fact are public schools (only better of course!), why the need for any legislation about accountability or anything else?
I mean, if they’re “just like” then there’s no need to pass a bipartisan—or any other kind of—bill.
Or is it true that charters are so scandal-ridden that they aren’t “just like” public schools, even with all their warts and problems and faults?
“It is not the answer that enlightens, but the question.”
I’m partial to Ionesco on this one.
😎
PR teams are planting the identifier, “government schools”, as a replacement for the term, public schools. The oligarchs, first, succeeded in convincing fools that “government” is the boogey man. Now, they plot to use their false contrivance to besmirch American schools. The sinister oligarch plans, won’t change the fact that public schools are of the people, by the people and, for the people.
I don’t think it’s nearly enough. It won’t make a dent in the problems. They’re still relying on sponsors to regulate these schools.
Charter lobbyists designed a poor governance system. Tweaking it isn’t enough.
With the huge Obama -Kasich expansion of charters where all of Youngstown is slated for privatization, I think it gets worse.
I agree, and the $71 million dollar infusion of federal money from Arne for Ohio charters is totally unethical and adds to the prospect for more fraud.
Yes.
http://knowyourcharter.com/2015/10/08/kyc-release-veracity-of-ohio-charter-grant-application-questioned/