Cordray: State needs to fund public schools, close charters

For-profit charter schools would be abolished and all schools would be held to the same state standards under a K-12 education reform plan unveiled Wednesday by Richard Cordray, the Democratic candidate for Ohio governor.

In a move that could be costly, Cordray also said the state would directly fund school-choice vouchers and charter schools to eliminate fund transfers from public schools to charters, and “eliminate the complex system of transfers that often results in a funding gap for taxpayers to fill through local levies.” He did not place a price tag on his plan.

In a reference to the costly failure of the online Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow amid allegations of criminal fraud, Cordray said he would purge charter schools of corruption if elected Nov. 6 over Republican Attorney General Mike DeWine and permit only nonprofit operations.

“Our schools are not businesses and our students are not customers,” Cordray said.

Cordray said he would be “remorseless and relentless” in putting corrupt charter schools out of business and From left, Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Betty Sutton, gubernatorial candidate Richard Cordray and Annalies Corbin, president of the PAST Foundation, talk with students at PAST on Wednesday.

return some of the $829 million a year that the state spends on charters to public schools to help fund his proposals. Charter schools, which Cordray said are exempt from 140 requirements placed on public schools, would have to play by the same rules as public schools, he said.

Cordray called for better funding of public classrooms during an announcement with lieutenant governor running mate Betty Sutton at the nonprofit PAST Foundation on the Northwest Side, which teaches one-year students and educators in break-the-mold learning.

DeWine outlined his education proposal last week, saying he would require online charter schools to prove student competency before they receive all of their state funding. He also would reduce student testing and direct more state aid to needy school districts.

Cordray also pledges to reduce testing to the federally required minimum, giving teachers more time on task to work with students on academics and other life skills. “Obsessive focus on testing” has deprived students of time to learn, he said.

He also wants to provide mental health and dental services and after-hours programs in schools. In addition, Cordray would secure funding to allow schools to hire back support personnel such as librarians, nurses and guidance counselors whose positions were sacrificed to budget cuts.

Cordray called for attracting and retaining skilled educators by offering loan repayment and other financial incentives to keep them in classrooms.

Sutton said the ticket also opposes state takeover of failing school districts such as what’s occurred in Youngstown and Lorain, saying the state would preserve local control and provide assistance and resources to local officials to help turn around their districts.

“Cordray understands the need to reduce testing and purge corruption from Ohio’s scandal-ridden charter schools. He understands that students bring to school a variety of needs that must be met with an equally diverse and comprehensive education,” said Ohio Federation of Teachers President Melissa Cropper. That union, and the Ohio Education Association, have endorsed Cordray.