THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH.
State restrictions limiting the opening of new charter schools will jeopardize Ohio’s chances of winning $400 million it is seeking in federal Race to the Top funds, according to an analysis released today by supporters of the tax-funded, privately operated schools.

The report by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools in Washington, D.C., found Ohio is one of 13 states with caps on charter-school growth.

Overall, Ohio ranked 26th among the District of Columbia and the 39 states that allow charter schools in the analysis of laws that best allow, hold accountable and fund charter schools.

The report found Minnesota had the best laws supporting the schools’ growth, followed by the District of Columbia, California, Georgia and Colorado. Maryland ranked last.

Release of the rankings comes only days before Tuesday’s deadline for states to apply for the $4 billion in Race to the Top money. Ohio is among 34 states competing for a share of the funds.

“No matter how strong its policies in other areas, a state that maintains a cap on charter schools — or passes no charter law at all — is a state that is missing a key building block of reform,” said Todd Ziebarth, the alliance’s vice president for policy and author of the report.

Bill Sims, who heads the group’s Ohio chapter, agreed that state restrictions run counter to Race to the Top guidelines, a point charter-school advocates have made to state leaders.

Sims said that while the state alliance supports Ohio’s effort to secure the federal grant money, he fears the state will lose out for ignoring suggestions from U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan that states seeking Race to the Top funding “lift caps on quality-run charter schools.”

Duncan has said that states should have clear charter-school laws that promote innovations and accountability of charter schools. Federal regulators, however, have not indicated whether limits Ohio has imposed on the opening of new schools or any other aspect of its charter law will impact its Race to the Top application.

Gov. Ted Strickland has said Duncan understands that Ohio supports charter schools and is trying only to hold them accountable for student performance.

Ohio has about 330 charter schools with more than 90,000 students.

Scott Blake, spokesman for the Ohio Department of Education, said that under Ohio law there is a moratorium on opening any new online charter schools.

There is no limit on the number of bricks-and-mortar schools that can open. However, they are restricted to the eight urban districts and any poor-performing district in the state.

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