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Spot checks discover students missing from some Ohio charter schools

Andy Chow/Ohio Public Radio

Investigators in Ohio Auditor Dave Yost’s office swept through 30 charter schools and found a big difference between the number of students officials reported to the Ohio Department of Education and the actual headcount in half of those schools.

“I frankly was shocked to find that 50% seems to be the average,’’ Yost said. “I think most of the folks in the legislature if you asked them without any backing they would be surprised by 50% attendance rate.”  

Yost says there were variables contributing to lower attendance-such as one school that dismissed their students early after taking a practice test.

Those for and against charter schools say they hope this report can lead to increased accountability measures from the Ohio legislature.