Category Archives: Charter School Management

More Charter Profiteering in Palm Beach

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money-40603_1280A charter school founder in Palm Beach said he made ‘mistakes’ in the interest of getting the school open last year.  His financial history was not good; he emerged from bankruptcy in 2010 and was running a small business for acting and modeling classes.

Yet, he could get loans to buy a former Christian school, create three for-profit companies and open Eagle Arts Academy.  How it was done is described as ‘legal’, but is it ethical to blatantly skirt the law?  Should the school district have been able to intervene?  You decide…Here are the facts as reported in the Palm Beach Post.  Clearly, the founder’s financial position has improved.

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Do You Know Which of Your Charters is in Trouble?

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auditWho is in trouble in your county?  The other day I posted the 2015 Florida Auditor General’s report on charter schools.  Today, I happened to look at that report again.  I scrolled down to find the list of charter schools in trouble.  Goodness, I found 3 of them were located in Alachua County.  You might want to see which ones are located in your area.

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Summer Sizzle (Fizzle) in Broward County, Florida

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By Margery Marcus

ft lauderdaleThe Broward County School District is upset.  Broward County has nearly two million people who live in relatively small cities.  Ft. Lauderdale, its largest city has fewer than 200, 000 people.  It is one of those pretty, but large beach towns.  One third (100) of their schools are charters, but they enroll only 15% of the school population.  Thus, there must be a lot of small charter schools.

Some charters with a high percentage of children from lower income families do well.  Some charters have very nice facilities.  There is once again, more to the story.  Margery’s report will give you some clues about what is happening.

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Florida Can Learn from Ohio: Charter reforms that can make a difference

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ohioOhio has had as many or more charter school scandals than Florida.  Maybe that is what it take to the Legislature’s attention.  Ohio’s House and Senate have passed charter reform bills that are stronger than Florida’s.  The charter industry is pushing back.  The legislature needs to reconcile the two bills.  Will they?

The reforms are strong and meaningful.  Florida can learn from Ohio.  Here are some specifics Florida needs to consider.

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Local Charter School Implodes: Part III A Teaching Moment

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money-762626_1280It is hard to say what our local charter’s parents have learned from the upheaval at the school.  It reminds me of stories about running any small business.  So, I looked up some.  I found a classic.  Top Ten Reasons Small Businesses Fail was published in the New York Times a few years ago.  It may have been written by a former charter school owner: money woes, poor management skills, personality driven operations that can lead to big problems.   The author states:  Rarely does the owner’s finger point to the owner.

Charters are supposed to have governing boards that supply expertise and perspective on operations.  Too often, they do not.  Instead boards are often cronies; friends of the owner.  They preside instead of work at the task of evaluating operations.  They rubber stamp.  They may mean well, but they do not know what they do not know.  What should they know?  What should our legislators do?  We have collected a list.  It is time for the League to go to work.

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A Local Charter Implodes: Part II: No one in Charge?

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leader precocious-432664_1280 When charters go wrong, parents have to vote with their feet.  They chose to send their children to charters, and they can choose to leave.  This was the message our local charter received.

Is leaving the school the only option?  Aren’t districts responsible for charters?  After all, districts sign the charter contracts.  More often than not, the answer is ‘No’.  Why is that?  Who is in charge?

 

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A Local Charter Implodes: Part I, The Tip of the Iceberg

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iceberg-415212_1280In the League of Women Voters, we study data, laws, rules and regulations.  We base our positions on facts.  Sometimes, the facts just do not make events seem real.

We decided to tell a story–it even has a sequel.  The facts are there, but the story is about high expectations and false hopes.  It is about how dreams go wrong.  It is a true story.

 

 

 

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