Why GCP supports setting standards for new charter schools

Monday, May 14, 2012

Cleveland, Ohio—In testimony before the Ohio House Education Committee last week, Greater Cleveland Partnership President and CEO Joe Roman said that the GCP supports the proposed authority for the Cleveland Transformation Alliance to set standards for new charter schools in the city.

Under Mayor Jackson’s Cleveland Plan, the Alliance will work with the Cleveland Metropolitan School District (CMSD) and partnering charter schools to develop a multi-year plan to ensure that Cleveland is developing a diverse set of educational options for students and families across the city. It also will monitor and ensure faithful execution of the plan.

Here are excerpts from Roman’s remarks.

“The goal of the Cleveland bill is simple. It seeks to head off the formation of charter schools which have no chance of succeeding. The Greater Cleveland Partnership supports the authority proposed for the Transformation Alliance and argues a standards-based, common sense approach to determining who is ready to take on the important task of education children is appropriate. This group will review applications for the creation of new charter schools in Cleveland only to make certain they meet basic tests that experience has shown are essential for successful operation of a school.

“We have seen the many success stories in the charter school community, but we’ve also witnessed too many failures that could have been prevented,” Roman said. “Clevelanders understand this issue and 71 percent of them approve of this provision.”

The Alliance, to be composed of representatives from the district, the charter sector and the community (business, foundation, civic and neighborhood, among others), will promote standards developed by the National Association of Charter School Authorizers as it relates to the authorization of new charter schools and timely closure of failing charters.

-end-

As an association of business members, the Greater Cleveland Partnership mobilizes private-sector leadership, expertise and resources to create jobs and leverage investment to improve the economic vitality of the region. www.gcpartnership.com

Back to News