Category Archives: Florida

Fla. High Impact Charter Network Bill Advances

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Legislation

Legislation

The devil is often in the details, and this bill HB 830 Stargel has many provisions.   In a nutshell, it requires better background checks and more transparency for charter providers.  This is good, right?  It also gives the State Board of Education the ability to authorize High Impact Charter Networks.  Maybe this is not so good.

Charter providers in approved networks apply to districts, but if they are already authorized, is this simply smoke and mirrors?  In a way, this is a mini version of the bill to amend the constitution to create a separate charter system.  It takes away local control.  The constitutional amendment will not make it to the ballot, but the High Impact Charter Networks are likely to become law.  If I were a betting person, I would think this is another effort to attract and expand KIPP schools.

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Should Florida Fail 3/4s of Third Graders?

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IMG_0471Have you seen the latest headlines:  Florida is the only state meeting NAEP standards?  You might think we have the highest standards in the country.

What it really means is that Florida is the only state which reports five levels on its state assessment that correspond to the five levels of NAEP.  This is a good thing.

It is not enough.

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What Matters in Early Childhood Education

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teacher-590109_1280It is no secret that early childhood is important, under staffed, and under enrolled.  Where do you start in recommending improvements in standards and staffing?  How is quality measured?  Which are the most critical priorities to improve care?  The Florida Association for the Education of Young Children did a survey.  We also compiled some legislative initiatives.

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Money or Ideology?: Why Does the State Board of Education Overrule Districts?

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money-40603_1280Sometimes the sun shines, and sometimes it rains.  I guess it is climate change??  It rained on St Lucie and Indian River’s school boards.  They had voted to reject three Somerset charter schools.  There were the usual complaints that the charters offered little new and also disrupted district desegregation efforts.  These new charters were proposed under the High Achieving Charter law that allows charters to locate in other counties if they have a charter school with at least two A’s and a B somewhere else.

School grades being school grades, high performing means little.  We all have schools that change from an ‘A’ to a ‘C’ depending upon how zone lines change.   Charters can maintain grades by strategic choice of location, students, and dismissal policies.

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LWVF Blasts House for Charter System Amendment

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florida-historic-capitolThere is something about standing on the old capital steps on a beautiful day in Tallahassee.  The Florida League delegates to the Legislative Summit assembled to hear Senator Nelson not only praise the LWVF’s successful redistricting lawsuit, but also the possibility that a more thoughtful mix of legislators may result. The sunny day, the sense of possibility permeated the air.

Following Senator Nelson, Florida League President Pamela Goodman made a strong statement supporting Florida’s public school system.

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Fla DOE Drops K-2 Test

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baby-84626_1280Remember Susan Bowles’ decision not to test her kindergartners?  They just plain had trouble navigating the test with the mouse.  If they made a mistake with the mouse, they made a mistake on the test.  Susan Bowles said enough was enough.  She went to her superintendent who agreed.

Now the State Department of Education agrees.  Commissioner Pam Stewart has sent a letter to Owen Roberts, Alachua County Superintendent.  It states that K-2 required testing using FAIR is now suspended through out the State.  Three cheers–maybe more for Susan Bowles.  You can read the letter here.

 

Charter School Explosion: Follow the Money

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money-40603_1280Do you wonder why I am so pleased about Sen. Gaetz’s bill?  I will tell you a story.  It’s an unbelievable story.  Pat Hall, LWVF Education Chair for Hillsborough’s League wrote it after her investigation of CSUSA real estate practices.  It’s a peek into another world.

Read it here.

Pat and I have wondered if we were whistling into the wind.  Maybe, just maybe, people are beginning to hear.

Fla. Senator Favors Charters with a ‘Social Conscience’

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curriculum plate-413157_1280Senator Gaetz is thinking about what is right.  He and Rep. Fresen (HB 873) are squaring off over charter school funding for facilities.  Both bills would reduce the amount of capital outlay dollars public schools can assess through local property taxes.  According to the Miami Herald, Senator Gaetz’s bill would also crack down on ‘private enrichment’ schemes that charter management firms use to build and lease facilities for which they charge exorbitant rates.

 

 

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