On April 23, KidsOhio.org hosted a briefing and forum on the new RAND report on charter schools: Charter Schools in Eight States: Effects on Achievement, Attainment, Integration, and Competition. One hundred leaders from across the state attended the event, held at The Columbus Foundation’s new Davis Hall. The purpose of the event was to provide the latest facts and research on charter schools in Ohio, and encourage constructive discussion and debate.

The forum drew a diverse audience, including representatives from charter schools, teachers unions, charter school advocacy groups, the Ohio Board of Education, the Ohio General Assembly, local school districts, the Ohio Department of Education, and a variety of nonprofit organizations devoted to education and social services. It began with a welcome from Columbus Foundation president Doug Kridler, and opening remarks from KidsOhio.org board chair Abigail Wexner, who emphasized that the purpose of the event was learning and collegial debate. Ultimately, said Wexner, “We’re supportive of schools that work.”

KidsOhio.org president Mark Real followed with a PowerPoint presentation of key facts related to charter schools in Ohio, in order to set the context for RAND’s research findings. Real reported that over 88,000 Ohio students attend one of 321 charter schools in Ohio-accounting for roughly one in 20 of Ohio’s public school students. Two-thirds of these students are economically disadvantaged, and about one in three attended an internet-based e-school in 2008.

One central trend that emerged was that on many metrics-including racial mix and average student learning gains-charter schools seem to be very similar to the traditional public schools from which they draw their students. A notable exception, however, is that Ohio students who transfer to charter schools tend to be lower achieving upon entering a charter school than their former peers at traditional public schools, according to RAND’s research. RAND also found greater variation in the overall performance of Ohio charter schools when compared to their corresponding traditional public schools.

Following Dr. Zimmer’s presentation was a question-and-answer response panel with questions from Columbus Dispatch education reporter Jennifer Smith Richards and Scott Stephens of Catalyst Ohio. Audience members, too, were invited to submit their questions for Dr. Zimmer. More than 40 questions were submitted, on topics ranging from charter school finance to student achievement to college retention rates among charter school students. In his remarks, Zimmer refrained from generalizations and spoke only to RAND’s findings.

After a short break, the program resumed with an open discussion with Dr. Zimmer.  Common themes among participants included a call for better student data systems and opportunities for schools that blend classroom- and internet-based
learning.

Despite the historically contentious subject matter of the event, the attendees evinced a civil and constructive spirit and an intent to keep the focus on positive outcomes for Ohio’s children. The sentiment was captured by former OEA president and current Ohio Board of Education member Dennis Reardon, who expressed a desire to move past polarized debate and “find common ground.”