A lawmaker wants to plug a potential hole in education funding and accountability. The measure would make sure that traditional public schools are getting more money if charters don’t need it or shouldn’t have it.
If an enrollment audit by the state auditor discovers that a charter school is getting more money for students they don’t have, the money goes back to the state education department. But Democratic Sen. and governor candidate Joe Schiavoni of Boardman says that money should go directly to public schools.
“They’re paying to transport the child, they’re paying to feed the child in certain situations, they’re paying for all the things that come with educating a child in a brick and mortar public school," Shiavoni says.
This is different than a full-time equivalent review performed by the state education department. A recent FTE of the Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow (ECOT) resulted in a $60 million claw-back, which is being sent back to public schools.
A similar piece of legislation has been introduced with Republican support in the Ohio House.
