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OAPCS is a nonprofit advocacy organization that proactively educates and informs the public, families, stakeholders, policymakers and thought leaders about the importance of educational choice and charter schools. In this capacity, OAPCS serves as a clearinghouse of charter school data, research and stories pertaining to the charter movement, quality in education, state and federal school legislation and other topics that affect student equity. 

For the Media: 

Inquiries, information and interview requests and questions should be directed to Julie Conry, OAPCS Director of Communications, at jconry@oapcs.org or 614-744-2266, ext. 203.

In the News:

OAPCS Media Statement on State Senator Joe Schiavoni’s Proposed Legislation for Online Charter Schools

March 22, 2016

The Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools (OAPCS) President and CEO Dr. Darlene Chambers released the following statement in response to State Senator Joe Schiavoni’s proposed legislation introduced today addressing online charter schools:   

“While there is room to create good policy to raise the level of student engagement in online schools, this legislation appears to have teachers use valuable instructional time to become seat time attendance trackers,” Dr. Chambers said.

“The proposals presented in this bill are more examples of unproductive…

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OAPCS Media Statement on the Innovation Ohio and OEA-sponsored Know Your Charter Report

March 22, 2016

The Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools (OAPCS) President and CEO Dr. Darlene Chambers released the following statement today regarding the Innovation Ohio and OEA sponsored Know Your Charter Report:

“This report makes assumptions and conclusions on data that appears to be reverse-engineered to support the position that traditional school districts should receive funding for public charter school students who do not attend a school in that district,” Dr. Chambers said.  “It is problematic to promote the idea, as this report states, that a school district…

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OAPCS Media Statement on NAPCS Health of the Charter School Movement Report

March 7, 2016

Columbus, OH– The Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools (OAPCS) President and CEO Dr. Darlene Chambers released the following statement in response to the NAPCS Health of the Charter Public School Movement Report released March 7, 2016:

“This report offers evidence that there is great diversity in the school models of Ohio’s charter movement, which is truly serving those students who need and seek out educational options,” said Dr. Chambers. “Nearly…

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New National Report Ranks Ohio 13th for Health of Charter Movement

March 7, 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools released the latest report evaluating the health of the charter public school movement in key states across the country. Ohio placed 13th in the rankings for several reasons, including the following:

  • In Ohio, a relatively high percentage of the state’s public schools are charters, showing a high demand for these innovative public school options.
  • In Ohio, charter public schools serve a higher percentage of racial and ethnic minority students and free and…
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Group Supports Sponsor Review

March 3, 2016

Peggy Young, President of the Ohio Association of Charter School Authorizers, responded to the February 24 Columbus Dispatch article “House puts off vote on charter school bill” in a letter-to-the-editor in the Columbus Dispatch. Read the letter-to-the-editor here.

OAPCS Media Statement on State School Report Cards

February 26, 2016

The Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools (OAPCS) President and CEO Dr. Darlene Chambers released a statement regarding the just released Ohio State Report Cards.

Read the OAPCS statement here.  Read the Hannah Report article here.

Charter Alliance: Take Report Card Info with 'Grain of Salt'

February 26, 2016

The Ohio Alliance for Public Charter Schools (OAPCS) added its own critique Friday to the reactions sparked by new report card data, finding some promising results for urban charters but generally urging families to take the data “with a grain of salt.” 

Democratic policymakers and the state’s largest teachers union had likewise urged skepticism following Thursday’s second wave of report card data releases for the 2014-2015 academic year, while the Fordham Institute welcomed a bursting of the “ratings bubble.” (See The Hannah Report, 2/25/16.)

“The report…

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Survey Says Toledo School for the Arts Rates No. 1 in State Charters

February 24, 2016

“Toledo School for the Arts took the top spot in a ranking of Ohio’s charter schools compiled by a website that uses student and parent reviews to generate such lists.

TSA was ranked the No. 1 charter school in the state and Ohio’s 25th best public high school by niche.com, the website of a for-profit Pittsburgh-based firm that offers links to residential real estate listings near the schools it profiles.”

Read the full Toledo Blade article…

Toledo Charter Student Maya Ramirez Wins Project Runway Junior

February 6, 2016

Toledo teen Maya Ramirez was announced as the winner of this year’s Project Runway Junior competition last Thursday during the program’s season finale. Maya attends Toledo School for the Arts, a public charter school in Northwest Ohio.

Read more in the WTOL article here

OAPCS Responds to Ohio School Districts Invoicing ODE for Charter Students

January 31, 2016

OAPCS responded to Ohio school districts invoicing the Ohio Department of Education in an article in the Dayton Daily News.

Read the Dayton Daily News article here.

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