Rep. Scott Oelslager: The charter schools have failed miserably

Another school experiment
Canton Repository, December 7, 2006

About a decade ago, Ohio legislators rushed headlong into an experiment with charter schools without requiring the kinds of strict accountability they expect of public schools. The charter schools have “failed miserably,” in the words of state Rep. Scott Oelslager, R-North Canton. Yes, for the most part, they have. So why would lawmakers even think of launching another experiment in private operation of schools funded by taxpayers?

Even though the 126th General Assembly is winding down, Rep. Chuck Calvert, Republican of Medina, has just introduced a bill that would create as many as five STEM high schools. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. The schools would be operated by unelected boards, public schools would lose funding for any students who transferred to a STEM school, and just for good measure, teachers at the schools could not unionize.

More emphasis on science, math and technology is an excellent idea that Gov. Bob Taft has addressed in his Ohio Core plan. There’s no need for the kind of radical change that Calvert proposes.

But then, the Legislature is selective about which kinds of radical change it prefers. Radical change that puts public schools at a disadvantage is OK. But radical change for the better in public schools — in the form of higher graduation rates and markedly better achievement test scores — hasn’t been enough to put the brakes on charter schools.

A new Legislature will take over in January. Calvert’s bill would make a lousy housewarming gift.