1. Choice in Education in Ohio Charters and Vouchers Deb Tully Ohio Federation of Teachers Director of Professional Issues The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

2. School Choice is a simple concept in which families are given the opportunity to choose the school their children will attend. School choice options include:  Open enrollment  Magnet schools  Home schooling  Charters  Vouchers The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

3. Charter Schools Charter schools receive:  formal government incorporation – known as a charter,  state funding, and  greater degree of autonomy than traditional public schools (freed from “onerous” mandates) Charters are called Community Schools in Ohio The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

4. Ohio Charter Legislation Passed 1997:  Allowed new start-up schools in Ohio’s eight largest urban districts (The Ohio Eight)  Permitted the conversion of existing public schools into charters anywhere in the state 1999  Permitted start-ups in the twenty-one largest urban districts in Ohio 2000  Permitted start-ups in any district designated by the state as in academic emergency 2012  Tightened requirements designed to monitor charters The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

5. The promise of charter school proponents: Better results with at risk students At a lesser cost than traditional public schools Better product for less money The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

6. 2011 Status  5 excellent with distinction charters (up from 1 last year)  About 24% of charters are effective or better, slightly better than last year's 21% and much better than the 7% three years ago.  More than 93% of Ohio's traditional public school districts rate effective or better on the report card, a marked improvement over the previous 88%.No Academic Emergency (AE) school districts, and only 6 Academic Watch (AW) districts  A bit over 43% of charters (of the 324 rated) are in AE or AW but slightly better than last year when it was closer to 46-47%. 2012 Local Report Cards delayed pending confirming accuracy of data reported. The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

7. 2011 Status  Of the most challenged districts in the state, 87.3% are effective or better  Of the Charters located in the most challenged districts in the state 21.8% are effective or better The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

8. 2011 Status  The 23 charters that are highest rated on the performance index score (a growth measure) are serving specialized populations of students in many cases.  Whether it’s autism, arts, career tech or college preparatory work, more than half of the top 23 charters are focused in those areas of specialty, not the general student population, and the ones that are doing very innovative curricula and methodologies.  Shows we may be able to partner with charters to use them as the lab schools they were intended to be. The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

9. School Funding  Ohio’s school funding model has been ruled unconstitutional.  Ohio does not distribute tax dollars equally across school districts.  There is a state average, but the amount that is used to provide state funding has complex factors which include the ability of a local district to raise revenue and a mix of special education factors.  In FY09, for instance, the Olentangy Local School District received per pupil state revenue of $1,573.00, while the East Cleveland City School District received per pupil state revenue of $10,044. The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

10. Charter Funding: The Current Controversy  Governor Kasich's budget increased public dollars to charter schools 120 percent ($2.2M), while he cut money for traditional public schools by more than 19 percent over the biennium.  He supports the expansion of charters despite the fact that 44.5 percent of charter schools earned failed.ratings in state report cards  The “deduction system” used to fund charter schools disproportionately burdens poorer school districts. To replace the state money being lost to community schools, poorer districts must, on average, raise property tax millage rates to a level nearly ten times higher than that required of richer districts. (Innovation Ohio) The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

11. Charter Schools - Pros  Diverse array of educational options  Competition – everyone gets better  Laboratories for educational experiment and innovation  Leads to systemic reform The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

12. Charter Schools - Cons  Provide only some with good options  Burdensome rules should be waived for all – no need for charters  Unfair advantage in competing with traditional public schools  Too limited to apply pressure to an entire system  Lack of accountability  May be able to choose their students, unlike traditional public schools  Educational management organization (EMO’s) as proprietors of charters make decision making far from the local school building  EMO’s often profit from charters at the student’s expense The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

13. Vouchers Began in Ohio in Cleveland in 1995 Cleveland Scholarship Program During the 1996-97 school year, the Cleveland Scholarship and Tutoring Program (CSTP) gave 1,996 students from low-income families scholarships to be used at any participating Cleveland private school, secular or religious. The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

14. Cleveland Scholarship Program The scholarship covered up to 90 percent of a school's tuition, up to a maximum of $2,250, the balance coming from the child's family or another private source. The maximum amount provided was little more than a third the per pupil cost of Cleveland public schools, which in 1997 was reported to be $6,507. The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

15. Cleveland Scholarship Program Challenged in court as unconstitutional due to use of public tax money to pay for private religious based schools U.S. Supreme Court in the 2002 in the Zelman v. Simmons-Harris case upheld that the use of vouchers for private schools was not a violation of church and state. The voucher went to the parent not the school. The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

16. Cleveland Scholarship Program  Students who reside within the boundaries of the Cleveland Municipal School District (CMSD) and will be entering kindergarten through eighth grade that school year are eligible to apply  The maximum amount of the scholarship is currently $3,450.00. The State will pay either 75 percent or 90 percent of the school's actual tuition not exceeding the maximum amount, depending upon 2010 gross family income  Once a student receives a Cleveland Scholarship, he or she can renew it in future years through 12th grade. There will be a scholarship renewal process each year when the parent/guardian must verify their residence remains in the CMSD.  Once a student receives a Cleveland Scholarship, he or she can renew it in future years through 12th grade. There will be a scholarship renewal process each year when the parent/guardian verifies their residence remains in the CMSD. The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

17. Education Choice Scholarship  Available to any public school student who attends a public school rated Academic Watch or Academic Emergency for 2 of 3 years  307 non-public buildings receive students from 201 buildings in 27 districts  Currently $4250 for elementary school students (kindergarten through grade 8) and $5000 for high school students (grades 9 through 12) or the private school's actual tuition amount, whichever is lower.  The EdChoice Scholarship Program currently is limited to 14,000 children. The budget increases its cap to 60,000 students over time, quadrupling the number of available vouchers.  Students currently enrolled in private, nonpublic schools or who are home-schooled are not eligible The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

18. Autism Scholarship Program  Any student identified by their public district of residence as autistic and for whom the district has created an individualized education plan (IEP) qualifies for the ASP.  The scholarship pays for goals and services on the child’s IEP up to $20,000 per school year. The child must be in the program for at least eight months to claim the maximum amount. The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

19. John Peterson Special Needs Scholarship  New scholarship for students with special needs  Home schools must identify the students and write their IEPs  Scholarship pays for a private provider to implement the IEP  Amounts of the scholarships depend on the student’s disability category.  Range from maximum’s of $7,169 for the least severe category to $20,000 for the most severe.  Begins in the 2012-2013 school year; Rules yet to be written  Once parents accept the scholarship, home district no longer responsible for providing a public education The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

20. Voucher - Pros  Poor families should have the same advantages as wealthy families  Competition  Private schools have a better history of getting good results  No need to be taxed twice  More private schools allow more specialization  Increases diversity in private schools  Money goes into the private sector and not government bureaucracies  Parent makes the choice between religious or non-religious school so state does not sanction religion – parent chooses it The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

21. Voucher Cons  Government funding of religious schools violates the first amendment (separation of church and state)  Take away funds from already underfunded public schools  Lack of accountability for private schools  Public schools may not pick and choose who they admit; must take all who come – comparisons are unfair The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

22. Your Thoughts  What is the purpose of public education?  How do charters and vouchers impact public education?  What do you see as the role of charters and vouchers in public education? The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals

23. Contact Information Deb Tully Director of Professional Issues Ohio Federation of Teachers 1251 East Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43205 614-257-4192 (phone) 614-257-4193 (fax) dtktoft@gmail.com The Ohio Federation of Teachers A Union of Professionals