Columbus Charters Push for Share of Local Tax Dollars

February 19, 2013 | 4:30 PM

Columbus charter schools would like to get a piece of the local tax dollars that go to The Columbus School District. The idea, floated at a recent meeting of Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman’s Education Commission, resembles what’s happening in Cleveland. Under the Cleveland Plan legislation passed last year, charter schools operating in Cleveland can apply to receive a share of local tax dollars, but a local education alliance also has greater oversight of charters operating within the district.

Source: Dispatch

That would require a major change to state law, which currently funds charters only through state and federal grants, leaving local property-tax dollars to fund district schools. How such a proposal would work, and whether it would have financial implications for suburban school districts that also have students attending charters, wasn’t clear.

Also unclear is whether any of the commission’s proposals to change state law — including being more aggressive in shutting down bad charters — could apply to schools outside of Columbus.

About StateImpact

Economy

Education

Energy