3/27/08

Columbus Dispatch Blog

Jennifer Smith Richards

The Ohio Coalition for Quality Education issued this statement in support of White Hat Management, which came under attack by a teachers union today.

“This morning the Ohio Federation of Teachers held a news conference to challenge the 501(C-3) tax status of White Hat Management. White Hat Management does not represent themselves as a tax exempt entity as the OFT states.

The OFT knows well that Ohio statue permits the boards of directors of community schools, should they choose, to contract with private companies to more efficiently manage their daily operations.

Community schools are public schools as defined by both the State of Ohio and the Ohio Supreme Court. It’s unfortunate that the OFT and other groups commit so much time fighting the idea of choice in education and oppose the decisions of thousands of parents seeking a better educational opportunity for their children.

The rapid growth of community schools in Ohio and across our nation is merely a barometer of parent dissatisfaction with public education in urban districts today.”

Check tomorrow’s paper for the full story.