Columbus – State Senator Tom Sawyer (D-Akron) recently introduced Senate Bill 219, which would repeal the provision of current law exempting a community school from the requirement to permanently close for poor academic performance.
“I am open to the idea of effective drop out prevention programs; and I recognize the challenges that many students face, especially those that may have once dropped out of school,” said Senator Sawyer. “Although I understand that these students may need special treatment, ignoring chronic failure of charter school programs does not serve these kids well and only turns a blind eye to the program’s underperformance.”
Senator Sawyer’s legislation is an effort to close remaining loopholes that charter schools have from the closure provisions. More than 25 percent of charter schools in Ohio are exempt from closure under the dropout recovery waiver regardless of performance.
Currently, 45 percent of Ohio’s charter schools are in academic emergency or academic watch. But charter schools are able to opt out of closure if a majority of its students are enrolled in a drop out prevention and recovery program and if they are granted a waiver by the Department of Education.
Senator Sawyer serves as the Ranking Minority Member of the Senate Education Committee.
