School Choice Under Fire in Ohio

School Choice is coming under fire from critics around the country. However, no critic has been more vocal than Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio, and no group more vocal in their opposition to School Choice than the Ohio Department of Education. Combined, they make a very vocal and at times, a some what convincing argument against School Choice. Their efforts have caused uproar in the state of Ohio that has now spread across the country. Grass Roots organizations like The Center for Education Reform and local groups such as My School My Choice have teamed their efforts together to lead a campaign against the Governor and his allies, a campaign composed of parents from across the State of Ohio. On May 9^th, 2007 this campaign led a rally on the lawn of the State House where parents showed their support for school choice and let their voices be heard on just how damaging Governor Strickland's proposed legislation would be to the education system of Ohio.

One only has to do a little searching to see why Governor Strickland is against Charter Schools and school choice as a whole. In his State of the State address Governor Strickland spoke of the failings in Charter Schools, the lack of accountability, the right all children in Ohio have to "A Public Education." He has recommended a "Moratorium on new Charter Schools" and a "Ban to keep for profit companies from running or investing in Charter Schools." Taking his words as face value you can see that he feels the charter schools show a lack of accountability in their day to day activities, and that public education is the only choice for a good education. Governor Strickland has failed to see the problems with in the Columbus Public School district alone.

Five schools with in the city of Columbus and its surrounding suburbs were placed on lockdowns because of weapons and fights this past week. In March it was found that the Columbus Public School District had spent "Nearly 3 million in federal grant funds and found thousands of items missing worth millions of dollars. The items were comprised of computers, furniture, and other items totaling $3.7 million dollars." The missing items were not brought to light until the audit. Governor Strickland talked of accountability and yet he has not held the Columbus Public School District to the same accountability he is requiring of charter schools.

Parents like me have chosen charter schools as the avenue of education for our children and we did so because we see the failings of the public educational system as whole. We found those failings to numerous to ignore any further. When researching schools for my son I read in depth on the shortage of funds for the district we reside in, I saw the accounts of verbal abuse by teachers and the failings of school administrators to hand down any sort of long term punishment for teachers or children who misbehave. I was able to research and find to that many parents have caused these failings by not properly educating or disciplining their children on what is acceptable behavior. I knew that for my son a charter school was the only option.

Now though, the Governor would like to take away that option from myself and every other parent who made the same choice. He has stated that he is "Focused on the best education possible for the children of Ohio." and yet he wants to take away the option of choice in education from the parents. The Department of Education feels that parents like myself are not fit to educate our children via Cyber or E-Schools and yet they have no qualms about the many parents who Home school in a more traditional manner. This biased becomes a slap in the face to parents who choose charter or cyber schools when they realize that the school districts receive federal funds for every child who is homeschooled in a traditional manner. The districts however do not receive federal funds for any child who is educated through a charter, private, or cyber school. The funds are given to the charter, private, or e-school instead of the school district. What the school districts, the Department of Education, and the Governor fail to acknowledge is this: Yes, charter schools federal funds for each child enrolled, however on average they receive about $3000 dollars less than their public school counter parts.

The erroneous charges put forth by Governor Strickland against Charter Schools in their many forms do not have a firm base when they are easily pushed aside by facts. The facts are simple:

Charter School students on average out perform their public school counterparts by a margin of more than 15 percent. Charter school students tend to be more accepting, more socialized, and more readily able to grasp concepts quicker than their public school counterparts. Charter School students show a greater capacity in reading, math, and science than their public school counterparts; and yet many charter schools are comprised of students who were deemed "failures, incorrigible, or anti-social" youths.

Parents should be given the right to choose which school is best for their child or children and no politician or group should have the power to take that right away based solely upon their opinions. We as a society should better look at the need for many kinds of schools and the need for school choice if we hope to succeed as a Nation.