The House bill would stop charter sponsors from selling services to the schools they oversee. The Senate is expected to go further and lay out the duties and limits of both sponsors and the operating companies who manage the schools.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Peggy Lehner says she wants to look at best practices around the country because Ohio charters rank below most of the nation.
“The fact that in Ohio just about anyone can be a sponsor, which is unlike the rest of the country. I think there’s going to definitely be a close look at who is sponsoring and what their duties are.”
The Republican chairman says most states don’t have for-profit operators as Ohio does. Those companies are also major campaign donors. She notes that some successful non-profits seem to be avoiding Ohio.
“Overall these schools that are doing best around the country don’t want to come to Ohio. We need to find out why.”
Democrats in the Senate want annual state audits of charter sponsors and operators.