SCHOOLS

Operating Schools

338

Ohio's charters are clustered in the state's "Big 8" school districts - their largest, most troubled cities.

Total Enrollment

94,171

Resource

The National Charter School Directory offers complete listings, including school address, program description, and website.

LAW

Grade

C

Rank

19th out of 40 laws

Resource

CER's 2010 point-by-point profile of Ohio's charter law looks at approval process, operations, funding, and teacher and student provisions.

EQUITY

Funding

Funding formulas shortchange charter schools. Ohio's charter schools receive, on average, $6,500 per pupil, compared to $9,972 for conventional public schools.

Resource

More information on equity issues at Charter School Funding: Following the Money.

ACHIEVEMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Test Scores

48 percent of Ohio's 115 public charter schools within the Big 8 boundaries exceeded the state's expectations for yearly progress as measured by the Ohio Achievement Test, while only 39 percent of traditional district schools met this standard.

Closures

Charter school closures are evidence of accountability in action. As of February 2009, 48 Ohio charters had been closed.

Today, Ohio's charter law requires reviews on progress and proficiency among all charter schools, and authorizers are required to shut down schools that fail to meet expectations. However, accountability improvements also brought new regulations that impose non-outcome related operational burdens on schools.

Resource

Accountability Report 2009: Charter Schools: In-depth information about charter achievement and accountability, including state-by-state analyses and closure listings.