Governor John Kasich signs Cleveland school improvement plan

CLEVELAND - Ohio Gov. John Kasich has signed into law a blueprint aimed at improving Cleveland's public schools.

Kasich signed the bill on Monday at a Cleveland school surrounded by city officials, lawmakers and children. He enlisted several youngsters to help him and told them "that's how you make a law."

Kasich had helped build support for the bill among fellow Republicans at the Statehouse, Democratic Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson, Cleveland's teachers union and the city's business community.

Under the bill, applications by community school sponsors will be reviewed by the state, a panel appointed by Jackson and a charter school association. The bill also invokes national standards to assure charter school quality.

Local tax money would be shared only with community schools sponsored by the Cleveland district or partner schools.