COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP): The Ohio House has approved a bill cracking down on low-performing Ohio charter schools and imposing a host of new accountability standards on sponsors.
 
The legislation cleared the chamber in a 70-25 vote Thursday. It heads next to the Ohio Senate.
 
It calls for additional financial, enrollment and attendance reporting from charter school sponsors and requires members of governing boards to file annual conflict-of-interest statements, among many other changes.
 
The proposed reforms follow a study that found Ohio charter schools' performance results are mediocre and their students, on average, lag behind those of traditional schools.
 
Backers say the bill advances Ohio past a “Wild West'' state of deregulation. Detractors seek further restrictions and transparency measures, including on charter operators.