Even though Athens City Schools received an “excellent” rating from the state during the 2010–11 academic year, about 80 students living within the district are expected to enroll in online charter schools this year, taking almost $400,000 in state money with them.
Charter schools offer students an alternative to local public or private schools in “challenged school districts” statewide.
Because the Athens district is not classified as challenged, there have been no physical charter schools built, although six online schools are available to area students.
A challenged district is defined as being in a state of academic emergency, ranking in the lowest 5 percent of Ohio school districts, being one of the eight largest and most urban school districts in Ohio, or having been designated as a pilot project area for charter schools.
However, online charter schools can offer their services to students anywhere in Ohio, regardless of the district students are in.
Because charters provide an alternative to public schools, they receive public funding, but throughout their existence they have avoided certain regulations on that funding.
Charters received about $7,200 per pupil statewide in fiscal year 2011, but public schools averaged slightly under $3,200 per pupil.
“Charter schools were meant to give kids a better option in public education, but a lot of charter schools are out to make money and not for education. You’ve got to do something better or you shouldn’t be allowed to
operate,” said Mahoning Valley State Sen. Joe Schiavoni, D-33rd, who is sponsoring a bill he says would better regulate charters.
Athens City Schools received $3,153.56 per student from the state in 2011, but pays $6,507.55 per pupil for each of the 59 district students who chose the charter option, totaling more than $380,000.
“In our case, $3,300 a kid of local money goes to the charter schools,” said Matt Bunting, Athens City Schools treasurer.
In the 2011–12 academic year, district administrators expect at least 29 more students to attend these types of online schools, taking an additional $120,000 to $200,000 away from the Athens district’s budget.
“Nothing we would do would take effect until this year,” Bunting said, concerning actions the district would take to counter the potential loss. “But next year, things would have to change.
Bunting declined to comment on potential changes until November when the state will release its final budget number.
dd195710@ohiou.edu
