Ohio's Education Reform Challenges: Lessons from the Frontlines

Charter schools have emerged as one of the central policy debates in U.S. education - and the Thomas B. Fordham Institute team has been a key participant in this debate since day one, both nationally and in Ohio. Despite President Obama's call for states to strengthen the charter sector and widen the options it provides to needy youngsters, established interests in education and politics oppose this disruption of the status quo. Ohio has struggled with these issues for more than a decade, struggles in which the authors of this book have played influential - and controversial - roles, including that of an actual authorizer of charter schools. They write from wide experience on the ground as well as extensive research and nationally-respected policy expertise.

Chester E. Finn, Jr. is President of the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, representing the Fordham Institute on the United States National Commission for UNESCO.

Terry Ryan is Vice President for Ohio Programs & Policy at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

Michael B. Lafferty is a freelance science and education writer and serves as a writer for the Thomas B. Fordham Institute’s Ohio Education Gadfly newsletter.