Chronically struggling public schools could be converted into charter schools, have their leadership replaced or be forced to close, according to proposed changes Ohio wants federal education officials to approve.
The proposal lists 16 ways to improve the state’s lowest-performing schools, which include high schools where at least a third of students do not graduate. But Ohio school leaders worry that the changes go too far and weren’t properly vetted.
Under the new rules, schools stuck on a list of underperforming buildings for more than three years would face a range of actions, starting with methods like replacing instructional materials and undergoing a comprehensive academic review, before moving on to more controversial tactics…