Do Ohio’s children win when schools compete?

Plunderbund, a site dedicated to Ohio statehouse politics, has done a great analysis on whether Charter schools in Ohio have led to an increase in test scores in Ohio schools.  While charts have generally shown an increase in test scores,  those at charter school are below those of public schools in Ohio's four largest public systems.  Even those test scores remain well below the state average, which includes suburban and rural districts, where there is little competition from state funded charter schools.

The argument of supporters of charter schools is that unlike public schools that perform dismally, charter schools themselves do fail and close.  Here's the issue: if a charter school closes down due to poor performance, where do the children end up?  In many cases, back in traditional public schools, sometimes having to catch-up to their peers who were continuously enrolled in that public school.

Has the jump in test scores been the result of influence and competition from charter schools?  Maybe?  Then why do charter test scores remain below those of urban public districts, and still well below public districts in general?  If the charter system is to be intellectually honest, it's time to shut down many of the charters.

Or better yet, if Ohio is having a massive budget deficit, and needs to cut education funding, this would be the right time to pull the plug on a shaky free-market idea, and focus on reality, and make sure all our children are educated and become successful.  If innovation is needed, let's innovate from within, rather than against our own tax dollars helping to fund more administrators, executives, and facilities.  This goes against Governor John Kasich's campaign to "spend more dollars in the classroom."  But then again, look at Kasich's campaign funding trail, and that's where we see "priorities" means something different.

Do Ohio's children win when schools compete? - Plunderbund