Currently, start-up public charter schools are limited to operating in the Big Eight Urban districts across Ohio.  A start-up charter school is developed by a team of people independent of the municipal district's authority.  The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) has contracted with Buckeye Community Hope Foundation to authorize/sponsor up to 31 start-up public charter schools.  

Any school district may resolve to establish a charter within its district boundaries by converting a school building for that purpose.  There are a number of districts doing so across the state.

For a directory of public charter schools in operation across Ohio, click on Community School Directory.