Late in its first week of trial, the wide-ranging lawsuit challenging the state of Florida’s education system veered into school choice issues. An Alachua County school board member told a Leon County circuit court that, among other things, charter and “voucher schools” aren’t subject to the same mandates as those run[Read More…]
School Boards
Charter schools, the facilities funding boogeyman?
As we noted last week, Florida’s perennial debate over charter school facilities funding is plagued by distortions that, even when debunked, don’t seem to go away. State Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, went after some of them this week in a Miami Herald guest column. Fresen chairs the committee that writes the[Read More…]
Florida districts make a strong showing in annual school choice rankings
Pinellas County Schools is Florida’s top school choice district according to a new report from the Brookings Institution. The 2015 Education Choice and Competition Index ranks more than 100 large urban school districts A-F based on thirteen factors such as the availability and popularity of alternatives to neighborhood schools, fairness in school[Read More…]
Charter school, public-school choice measures advance in Fla. Legislature
By Brandon Larrabee The News Service of Florida A constitutional amendment that would set up a statewide entity with the power to approve charter schools anywhere in Florida — bypassing local school districts — is headed to the House floor, along with a bill that would allow parents to send[Read More…]
When home schoolers go charter
Teachers who come to work for Belmont Academy in Lake City, Fla. often see one of the school’s recruitment fliers, illustrated with five words scratched onto a green chalk face: “I just want to teach!” Michael Cady, the charter school’s principal, said that slogan tends to resonate with teachers who have no[Read More…]
More union leaders, parents debate Florida tax credit scholarships
The fallout from a 10,000-person rally in Tallahassee continued this weekend, with another set of dueling newspaper columns on the lawsuit challenging Florida’s tax credit scholarships. In Florida Today, Brevard County teachers union leader Richard Smith argued private school choice programs actually harm students. Why are vouchers bad for Florida’s students?[Read More…]
Who would benefit from public school choice?
Two years ago, the income Demetrius Cherry received from commissions at his sales job suddenly plummeted. His wife, Nina Cherry, said they lost their home and were basically “couch surfing” with their four children, and constantly changing addresses. They had no choice but to leave Pasco County, which meant leaving behind public[Read More…]
Make 2016 the year of AND
Note: This week on the blog, parents who have chosen a variety of schooling options will be sharing their educational wishes for 2016. by Shawn Frost What would make 2016 a success in my eyes? I view this question as a school board member, as an education policy analyst, and in[Read More…]