When it comes to charter schools the playing field isn't just unlevel, there are 2 different fields. A report from Gongwer
Majority Republicans imposed new requirements in the budget bill for public schools to regularly evaluate teachers and principals, but in a little-noticed twist to the hotly debated policy change, many charter schools ended up with an exemption.
The budget language, which is supported by Gov. John Kasich, gives more than 130 charter schools a pass from instituting teacher performance evaluations, which critics say creates unequal accountability among public schools.
So what are both sides saying about this?
Ohio Association of School Business Officials Associate Executive Director Barbara Shaner said the performance evaluation requirement should be applied uniformly.
"We feel like there does need to be the same level of accountability, and if the evaluations are meant to improve student achievement and improve the effectiveness of school districts then I guess our view would be that it should apply to all schools," she said.
That would seem like the common sense response. We hear continually from corporate education reformers how imperative it is that teachers are accountable for their results, and that the continued lack of accountability is causing a crisis in education.
Apparently, when it is suggested to corporate education reformers and their benefactors that charts should be held to similar standards, the story changes
Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools President Bill Sims said he understands the motivation for the budget language. "I think that the rationale there was that in keeping with the original intent or precepts of charter schools was to give them as much autonomy as is possible," he said.
Kasich spokesman Rob Nichols agreed, saying the language reflects that charter schools operate under different oversight than traditional schools do.
But, but but, charters are different!
Yes, yes they are. Let's compare the 2011 state report card for traditional schools and charters. We'll note in red the worst performing of the two
| Designation |
Charters |
Traditional Schools |
| Academic Emergency |
20.9% |
4.4% |
| Academic Watch |
16.8% |
5.6% |
| Continuous Improvement |
28.9% |
12.1% |
| Effective |
11.8% |
23.2% |
| Excellent |
7.4% |
40.1% |
| Excellent with Distinction |
1.5% |
8.7% |
| Not Rated |
12.7% |
5.9% |
The governor's spokesperson continued
"From the administration's perspective, charter schools by definition operate outside the tentacles of state regulation, which is in part why they've been very, very successful; unsuccessful ones are simply shut down," he said.
That's a lot of red for something that's been very, very successful, don't you think? So much red you might be excused for thinking more oversight is needed, not less.
