The Florida Board of Education this morning will hear an appeal from a charter school that was rejected by the Duval County School Board.
Sometimes state officials are confronted with tough calls, or situations where the state charter school appeals commission supports overturning the local board’s rejection of a charter application. One such case, where the Palm Beach County School Board tried to take a stand against charter school growth, is making its way through a state appeals court.
In this case, however, the Duval school board unanimously voted not to approve the proposed Arts Academy of Jacksonville Preparatory School, and the appeals commission has voted to support their decision.
District staff found the school’s application lacking or incomplete in important areas, from where it planned to recruit students to its plan for promoting academic excellence.
They also noted the operator’s president briefly ran a school that quickly shut down, early in the 2009 school year. (The school, however, contends the administrator in question has since “gained more knowledge” and “obtained more experience” that would help her run a charter school successfully.)
“An application such as this one, which had significant weaknesses and failed to meet the minimum requirements for approval, must be denied,” the school district wrote in documents contesting the appeal.
The state appeals commision voted unanimously to recommend the state board uphold the local decision.
The board meets at 9 a.m. in Bunnell.
Update: The state board voted unanimously to reject the school’s appeal.
