Today, State Auditor candidate and State Representative John Patrick Carney voiced concerns to educators and community members in Wayne County about the growing trend of local public tax dollars being lost to failing charter schools across the state.

The most recent Ohio Department of Education report card data shows thousands of dollars in school funding are being diverted from highly ranked public schools to lower ranked or failing charter schools.

John Patrick Carney said the data raises a host of questions concerning the funding and operation of charter schools in Ohio.

“All schools and administrators should be held to the same level of accountability, regardless of whether they are public schools or charter schools. It is alarming that failing schools appear to be receiving funding that should be going to schools that are actually doing well.  Families have the right to know that their children are receiving the best education possible and that their tax dollars are going to schools that deserve it.”

Members of the Wooster Education Association share Rep. Carney’s sentiments.  The organization’s President, Scott S. Miller, released this statement today:

“Recently figures were released that showed Wooster City Schools have lost $668,000 to charter schools. While our school staff work tirelessly to earn an Excellent with Distinction rating (2011/2012, 2012/2013), Ohio charter schools do not have to meet the same measurable standards, as do other public school districts. The voters of Ohio need to come together for different state leadership, leadership that will value our public school districts that build strong, thriving communities with students ready to take on the challenges of the 21st century.”

Background

$476,862,520.35 has been transferred to failing charter schools across the state of Ohio.**

$83,471,754.27 has been transferred from “A” rated public schools to “F” rated charter schools in Ohio.**

Rep. John Patrick Carney Spoke out Against Expanding Charter Schools and Eliminating Accountability – According to the Columbus Dispatch, “Rep. John Patrick Carney, D-Clintonville, called it a charter school ‘operator’s bill of rights.’” [Columbus Dispatch, 5/3/11]

Rep. John Patrick Carney introduced HB 520 to mandate open records for charter schools.

Overview of the bill:

• Requires the Auditor of State to annually audit each community school operator and each community school sponsor, covering only public funds for nonpublic operators and sponsors.
• Requires each community school to establish a public records commission and public records retention schedule as is required of public districts.
• Requires nonpublic operators and nonpublic sponsors of a community school to comply with public records pertaining to all records that deal with the management of sponsorship of the school.

** according to most recent ODE Report Card Data (does not include dropout recovery schools)