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Education Official Resigns Amid Charter School Controversy

The Ohio Departmente. of Education is pushing for updated safety plans for schools around the state
Ohio Department of Education

(AP) — An Ohio education official has resigned after acknowledging he excluded failing grades for charter schools in evaluations of the schools' overseers.

David Hansen, the School Choice director for the Education Department, confirmed last week he left F grades for online and dropout recovery schools off evaluations of charter school sponsors. He said he felt the marks would "mask" successes elsewhere.

The omission boosted the ratings of two sponsors, which could make them eligible for more state perks.

Hansen sent a one-line letter of resignation to state Schools Superintendent Richard Ross on Saturday, which the department released to The Associated Press.

Officials say Hansen was legally bound to report all the grades. The evaluations have been retracted. Hansen's wife is chief-of-staff to Gov. John Kasich (KAY'-sik).