Teresa Fedor: Charter Schools

Ohio Senate Democrats want to solve problems with charter schools

Canton Repository

Nov. 25, 2005

In response to the Nov. 21 editorial “Charter complaints,” I commend the newspaper for mentioning the charter schools conference that was recently held in Columbus. However, the editorial was short on substance. It did not give a full picture of the charter school debate in the state.

It also implied that state lawmakers don’t give “a hoot” about taking a vocal and public stance against the major problems inherent in our charter school system. This could not be further from the truth.

The latest evidence that there are lawmakers who strive to hold charter schools accountable was on Nov. 2. I was one of two leaders in the Senate Democratic Caucus who openly criticized the recently released Thomas B. Fordham study that was highly critical of public schools in Ohio.

As a former teacher and current ranking member of the Senate Education Committee, I religiously maintain that failure is not a choice for our students. In the last year alone, I, along with my fellow Senate Democrats, have put forth several pieces of legislation aimed at cracking down on the massive negligence by our state’s charter school operators.

I’ve called for a moratorium on any new charter schools in Ohio as well as community school startups in the “Big Eight” school districts unless that area is in academic watch or academic emergency, and I have endlessly offered amendments in committees and on the Senate floor putting the brakes on poorly performing schools within the community school system.

So for those who are willing to listen, lawmakers are indeed “hollering to high heaven” about the dismal academic performance our charter schools are delivering for our children.

State Sen. Teresa Fedor, D-Toledo