By Andrew Welsh-Huggins
The Associated Press

COLUMBUS - While 11 of Ohio's original charter schools are still in operation, the first five-year review of their effectiveness doesn't give their age a lot of weight.

"I'm not going to say if a school's been around for five years, it's a slam dunk and they're in," said Steve Burigana, executive director of the Department of Education's Office of Community Schools.

The law that created charter schools in 1997 requires the evaluation, which will determine whose contracts are renewed. Decisions are expected next month.

Charter schools are publicly funded, privately run schools eligible for some startup costs but no construction money.

Supported by GOP lawmakers, charter schools are seen as an alternative to traditional public schools. Democrats and teachers unions oppose them, pointing to low proficiency test scores and the closing of several schools because of financial problems.

They also say they drain state funding from needy public schools. Charter supporters say public schools have been allowed to fail long enough without other options for students.

"Our assumption is five years at most without positive results should warrant not renewing a charter," said Tom Mooney, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers. "We're very skeptical whether the state is going to take that approach, but we would love to be surprised."

The education department is analyzing paperwork from each school and results of one to two-day visits. A three-member team is interviewing parents, teachers and students. The state paid Boston $72,000 to help develop the process.

Operating for five years "speaks well to them still being in existence, but that doesn't mean they've been faithful to their mission and have executed it well," Mr. Burigana said.

More than 120 charter schools are expected to be open this year, enrolling more than 28,000 students. The state is expected to provide charter schools more than $180 million this year, or about 2 percent of Ohio's annual school budget.