Explanation
Background: In December 2012, the Mayor and the President of Columbus City Council created the Columbus Education Commission with the charge to develop specific recommendations that would enable all of our children to succeed in the city’s vibrant, growing economy; make Columbus a global leader in developing the highly skilled, creative, entrepreneurial workforce that will propel economic growth in the 21st century; and leverage the resourcefulness of our entire community to meet these goals.
In April 2013, the Commission issued a final report including 55 recommendations to improve the education of children living in the Columbus City School District. In June, the Ohio General Assembly passed enabling legislation which allows for the implementation of three (3) of the Commission's recommendations, including: the creation of an independent auditor to provide oversight of school district operations; the sharing of local property taxes with certain high-performing community schools; and, granting the City of Columbus the authority to sponsor community schools. The Columbus Board of Education has since placed on the November 2013 ballot two (2) ballot issues which if approved would establish a 9.01 mill capital and operating levy, a portion of which could be shared with partnering community schools, and create the position of the independent auditor.
The City of Columbus and Columbus City Schools continue to work together to implement the recommendations of the Columbus Education Commission to ensure that all Columbus City Schools students attend high performing schools. This includes defining and establishing standards for high performing schools. To this end, the City and the Board agree that the best way to develop standards for replicating high performing District schools and partnering community schools, and for City sponsorship of community schools, is to engage the public through a diverse working group of community leaders and encourage a thoug...
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