“There is so much more to education than just taking test after test after test,” said Cordray, who is running for governor against Republican Mike DeWine, who released a 17-point education plan last week.
DeWine and Cordray will face off in their first debate on Sept. 19 at the University of Dayton.
Cordray said he wants Ohio to drop back to the federal minimum number of standardized tests. When asked if it would do away with the “third grade reading guarantee,” a signature project of the Kasich administration, Cordray said “We’ll sort all this out but our aim is to go to the federal minimum for testing.”
He didn’t provide details on how the shift might impact testing requirements for high school graduation.
DeWine’s education plan also calls for reducing the number of required student tests, but doesn’t identify which type or how many should be eliminated.
“Over testing together with inadequate funding have narrowed school curriculum and pushed out many other meaningful ways to engage students,” he said.
Related: Funding tweaks, online school changes part of DeWine education plan
Cordray also said he will limit charter schools to those operated by non-profits only. “We have been failed dismally over the past eight years over a lack of accountability over failing charter schools in Ohio.”
He pointed to the now closed Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow, which had been the nation’s largest online charter school until it abruptly shut down in January. ECOT received just over $1 billion during its 18 year run but its graduation rate was 39 percent.
“Our schools are not businesses and our students are not customers but those involved in the ECOT scandal put profit above our students’ needs. We will prohibit for-profit companies from running charter schools, limiting their operation to non-profit entities,” Cordray said.
When asked if this would require legislative approval, Cordray said “That’s a good question and I don’t think we necessarily know the answer yet.”
Related: Dayton to host first debate in race for Ohio governor
Cordray said “blended funding” using local, state and federal money from various programs can be used to offer “wrap around” services for students and their families, including dental, primary care and vision check-ups, mental health counseling and after school care.
“It means that the services are provided right at the school where we know the students are going to be day in and day out as opposed to the families bearing the burden of all the logistics, organization and transportation to get those services,” Cordray said.
Cordray is endorsed by Ohio’s largest unions representing teachers.
Related: What is State Issue 1 on the ballot?
Reporter Jeremy Kelley contributed to this report
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Dayton hosting first governor debate
Questions: What questions do you have for the governor candidates? Send them to us on our Ohio Politics Facebook page or email them to votersguide@coxinc.com
How to watch: You can watch the Sept. 19 debate with Mike DeWine and Richard Cordray live at 7 p.m. on WHIO-TV Channel 7. You can also stream it on our newspaper web site.
Listen live: Listen to the debate on AM 1290 and News 95.7 WHIO then stick around for a live post-debate show starting at 8 p.m.
Post debate recap: Watch a special debate post-show on WHIO.com and DaytonDailyNews.com Sept. 19 starting at 8 p.m.
In the paper: Each day this week we will take a look at where DeWine and Cordray stand on the issues that matter to you.
Stay informed: Sign up for our Ohio Politics newsletter.
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