DAYTON, Ohio — The union that represents the city's public schoolteachers sued the state over charter schools Friday, saying they have had a destructive effect on the public schools and their students.

        The lawsuit, filed in Franklin County Common Pleas Court in Columbus, says Ohio has failed to fulfill the state requirement for a thorough and efficient system of public education.

        Willie Terrell, president of the Dayton Education Association teachers union, said Ohio's method of sponsoring, funding and proctoring charter schools is unfair and illegal.

        “The state's wanton disregard for the manner in which community schools operate in Ohio has failed the public school students the state is obligated to protect,” Mr. Terrell said.

        Charter schools, known as community schools in Ohio, are public ly funded, privately operated institutions free from some state regulations. They receive basic state aid and limited start-up money.

        Ohio has 68 charter schools, and 12 of them are in Dayton. Thousands of students have been lured to the community schools, prompting officials in Dayton to propose closing several public schools.

        The lawsuit accuses the state of violating its obligation to public schools by diverting money to charter schools. It also says the state has sponsored charter schools without requiring them to follow state laws and without regard to the impact the number of charter schools has had on public schools.

        In addition, the lawsuit says, many charter schools do not even comply with the lower minimum standards established for them.

        The plaintiffs include the DEA, two parents with children in Dayton public schools and one parent with a child in a charter school. Named as defendants are the State Board of Education, the Ohio Department of Education and Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman.

        J.C. Benton, spokesman for the state Education Department, said the agency had not yet seen the lawsuit.

        “We will certainly take a look at it and work with the attorney general's office to decide our next step,” Benton said.

        Joe Case, spokesman for the attorney general, said state lawyers are still reviewing the union's complaint.

        “We're reviewing the documents filed by the Dayton Education Association and we'll see what steps we need to take to defend the community schools,” he said.

        The 1,724-member DEA is affiliated with the 126,000-member Ohio Education Association, which is supporting the lawsuit.

        OEA President Michael Billirakis said the association got involved because charter schools have drained money from public schools and resulted in the “dumbing down” of educational standards.

        “If the state chooses not to meet its legal obligation to fund our schools in a thorough and efficient manner, then we must compel it to do so,” Mr. Billirakis said.

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