Cleveland announces bold transformation plan that could include transfer of local tax dollars to high-performing charters

Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson announced yesterday a bold plan to transform public schools in Cleveland, including charters. The plan utilizes a portfolio approach to education and encourages collaboration between charter schools and traditional schools, both things that OAPCS has long endorsed. The goal of the plan is to “ensure every child in Cleveland attends a high quality school and that every neighborhood has a multitude of great schools from which families can choose.”

The plan not only recognizes the unique and important role that charter schools play in public education, but, much to delight of OAPCS, it encourages charter growth. Under the plan, the district promises to identify ways to transfer local tax dollars to support high-performing charters. This would mark the first time in Ohio history that start-up charters would share in the local revenue that district schools have long enjoyed. The plan also aims to maximize enrollment at all of the high-performing schools within the city; to that end, the district will help communicate charter options to parents.

OAPCS is still reviewing the plan, and many of the details of the plan have yet to be worked out. The plan would require numerous changes to state law; it also hopes to pass a levy this fall to help pay for the reforms. Cleveland has not passed a levy in 16 years.

OAPCS applauds the innovative thinking in Cleveland that produced the Transformation Plan, and we look forward to helping Cleveland makes good on its promise to provide all students with an excellent educational opportunity.

You can read the plan here.