The state of Ohio wants to take charter schools to a whole new level: colleges of education. The state department of education is seeking to establish teacher-preparation schools that are free from state regulations so long as they produce high-quality teachers--a variation on the concept that has led to the creation of more than 3,000 K-12 charter schools in 41 states since 1992. Ohio state officials successfully lobbied for federal support to begin a program that will allow teacher colleges to use new creative strategies that do not have to meet current state regulations. The state is currently soliciting proposals for such charter schools of education, which must prove that they will create highly trained and effective teachers. Ohio officials want the new ventures to focus on preparing teachers for schools that face the biggest challenges in raising student achievement, typically urban schools with large numbers of poor and minority children. After lobbying Congress to provide $800,000 to start such charters, the state expects to use the money to make two grants. Proposals are due June 15, and the state would like to see the grant recipients working with prospective students in the fall. While Ohio may soon add just two new charter colleges of education, a bill pending in Congress would set up a grant program to establish such charters.