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Single Gender Charters in Trouble

Posted on November 22, 2016November 22, 2016 by Sue Legg

Duval County has four single gender charter schools; two for boys and two for girls. Evidently, there are just not enough parents to make them viable. Total enrollment for the four schools is 349 middle and high school students. It is not enough, the schools are $333,000 in debt. Staff cuts are being made and donors are being sought.

Superintendent Vitti doubts the non-profit management company, Profectus Learning Systems, operating the schools can survive. He said that even with cuts in staff, debts are likely to grow. The schools may not be able to provide the required academic programs.

Many people like the idea of small schools. Some children simply do better with more personal attention and less distraction. Others thrive on the diversity and opportunities larger schools provide. Providing an affordable balance is difficult. Similar problems are occurring in other communities where charters and private schools siphon off students from local public schools. Soon, all schools are small and underfunded.

Who Controls Our Schools?

Posted on November 20, 2016June 7, 2017 by Sue Legg

by Carole Hentscel

This is a profound piece of writing by the Independent Media Institute, read the complete report listed (e-book ). It asks, I think, are we playing a shell game with education dollars by diverting them to charter chains, testing companies and construction?

pg 29 & 30 Tampa- addresses Charter Schools USA using tax exempt bonds to acquire land and build schools, but then its related management company rented those facilities back at exorbitant prices. Charter Schools USA charged 5 percent management fee to local Charter School operators, but siphoned off 23 percent of one school’s budget reported by local CBS TV affiliate.

pg 33 “Despite myriad reports detailing many conflicts of interest and examples of profiteering state legislators and congress have imposed few additional transparency and accountability requirements in Florida, Texas and California”.

pg 38 Recommendations:

1. A moratorium on charter expansion

2. Audit and account for all public funds granted to date

3. Subject charter boards to public meetings and open records laws.

4. Ban founders from hiring relatives and firms where they have ownership stakes.

5. Require more evidence based school practices to obtain federal funds.

6. Adopt national standards for competitive bidding and contracting by charter boards

7. Restore elected/appointed school board oversight of charters in their district.

8. Enforce open and inclusive enrollment practices.

9. Require charter trade associations to disclose political donors and activities.

10.Ban on-line charters. Except for carefully overseen pilot projects within districts, with clear evaluation, assessment, and sunset provisions, on-line charters must be abandoned.

The privatization of American public education is carefully explained in this just released report. How a group of billionaires has aggressively pushed to privatize the traditional public school system is outlined step by step.

Federal Education Policy Changes Afoot?

Posted on November 18, 2016November 18, 2016 by Sue Legg

I have avoided posting all of the speculation about possible changes in education leadership and policy in the new administration. It is just plain hard on my peace of mind, especially when most of it will not happen. I firmly believe that the real changes will be through the change in leadership in the Florida legislature. As you know, I am not sanguine on those. You can see previous posts.

This morning, however, I ran across an article that helps us think more realistically about what change at the federal level would take. This Ed Week article reviews legislation that would have to be amended to redirect funding. It also points toward a likely push for school choice funding in the Congress. It is worth a read.

Florida State School Board 2017 Priorities

Posted on November 17, 2016November 17, 2016 by Sue Legg

What is important to the Florida State Board of Education (SBE) this year? According to this report, the SBE is focusing on capital outlay funding, charter expansion priorities, streamlining teacher preparation programs, and online education. As priorities from different stake holders emerge, the negotiation with the legislature will intensify.