C. ODE has no real oversight office. The Office of School Options provides help to charter schools. This year the Office of School Options began reviewing safety violations and criminal background checks by charter schools. They, however, are too understaffed to adequately perform their limited oversight duties. The article cited one charter school that opened without textbooks, indoor toilets, desks or telephones.
Many schools are in unsafe buildings that failed local fire and health inspections.
E. Many Ohio charter schools are not the centers of educational innovation envisioned by charter school supporters. They are using canned methods and practices created by private for-profit education companies. Also there is no evidence that charter schools are reducing education costs or saving taxpayer money, despite lower pay for teachers and exemption for 191 state mandates. In fact local districts are losing money due to special education mandates and the 11.5 percent cap. The cap forced districts to pay 100 percent of the local charter school's funding.