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Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2008 > May > 14
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Luckie wants new limits on charter schools
Clayton Luckie
Looks like while I was out of town, Ohio Rep. Clayton Luckie, D-Dayton, introduced in the legislature the bill he promised last month that would limit charter school companies from opening new charter schools unless they can demonstrate that they are replicating a high performing school they already run successfully in Ohio.
The current law allows charter companies to open new charter schools in Ohio as long as they can demonstrate they have at least one high performing school they manage somewhere in the country. This means a company operating low performing schools in Ohio can keep opening more schools as long as it can point to high performers in other states.
And Luckie’s bill goes futher, blocking any charter company with a low performing school from opening more charter schools.
Here’s Luckie’s press release:
Rep. Luckie Introduces Bill to Limit Creation of New Charter Schools
Legislation Limits Expansion of Underperforming Operators
State Representative Clayton R. Luckie (D-Dayton) today introduced legislation limiting the expansion of charter schools under operators running poor-performing schools in Ohio. The bill would bar charter school operators from opening additional schools in Ohio if other schools they control in the state are listed in academic watch or academic emergency by the Ohio Department of Education.
Current law allows operators to open a new school in Ohio if they can show they operate other effective schools anywhere in the nation.
“Ohio has allowed charter schools to operate without proper oversight or accountability for far too long,” Rep. Luckie said. “Right now, the message to out-of-state operators is, ‘As long as you deliver quality education to Arizona’s children, take our public money and do whatever you want in Ohio.’ Ohio’s children deserve better.”
Luckie crafted this legislation in response to a situation in his district.
Imagine Schools, Inc., based in Virginia, recently announced its intention to open a new school in Dayton. The company operates 51 schools in several states, seven in Ohio. Two of its schools in the Columbus area - Great Western Academy and Academy of Columbus - are on Academic Watch and Academic Emergency, respectively. Imagine Schools, Inc.’s other Ohio schools have not been operating long enough to receive state report cards from the Department of Education.
“I fail to see how we can allow Imagine Schools, Inc. to open new schools in Ohio until they prove they can adequately educate children to Ohio’s standards,” Rep. Luckie said.
Governor Ted Strickland proposed a moratorium on new charter schools last year in Ohio’s budget, but the idea was rejected by pro-charter school Republicans, and negotiations produced the current law.
“It is time to demand that private companies operating with public funds deliver on their promises of quality or face serious consequences,” Rep. Luckie said. “It is time to enact effective charter school reform so we can repair what’s broken in our school systems.”
House Bill 552 now awaits assignment to a House committee for formal hearings.
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