House Republicans pull down charter-school regulation bill before legislative recess

State Rep. Teresa Fedor (D-Toledo), the Democratic leader on the House Education Committee, today issued the following statement in response to House Republicans pulling down House Bill 707, online charter school regulation, from a vote in the House Education Committee next week:

“After submitting numerous Democratic amendments to hold politicians like Dave Yost and Keith Faber accountable for hundreds of millions of dollars in charter school fraud that hurt our children, House Republicans cancelled hearings on their decades-late ECOT regulation bill. Failing to move forward this late on needed regulations to online charter schools underscores the true intentions of this bill. It isn’t, and never was, really about the kids.

“This bill is designed to give Republican candidates political cover in an election year after they covered up fraud and profited off money meant for our children’s education. As families and taxpayers are tuned in to the state’s biggest scandal in history, we will continue to watch what they do – not what they say – when it comes to finally holding failing charter schools accountable.”

The Speaker of the House has indicated next week will be the last week of session and votes on House Bills before breaking to campaign over the summer.