A Republican-dominated state legislative committee has delayed rules that the Ohio Department of Education needs so it can set up a tough new sponsor evaluation system aimed at making Ohio's charter schools more accountable.
New sponsor evaluations were supposed to come on line in October but their timing's now uncertain.
In a party-line vote Monday, the Legislature's rule-making panel sent the rules to a body that assesses potentially detrimental effects that state actions have on businesses. The Common Sense Initiative has 30 days for a review.
Portions of the charter-school community had been fighting elements of the proposal. The department is required under legislation passed last year to establish evaluations based on academic performance, adherence to best practices and compliance with state laws and rules.
