Last summer, the Florida Board of Education sought changes at three persistently struggling rural North Florida schools. It seemed likely at least one, Hamilton County’s only high school, would have to become a charter school. Weeks later, the Hamilton school board voted to join other districts challenging a charter-friendly school[Read More…]
Tag: charter school conversion
Parents, teachers support converting Fla. Gulf Coast school to a charter
When Kevin Jackson learned about a grassroots effort to convert his daughter’s middle school to a charter, he became newly hopeful about improving student achievement. In recent years, the Manatee County school has mostly been stuck at a “C” letter grade or below. “I am so excited for my community[Read More…]
NOLA-style charter transformation coming to rural North Florida
GAINESVILLE – Last week, the Florida Board of Education approved a plan that would consolidate the two public schools in Jefferson County, Fla. and convert them to a charter school. As the board voted, Bill Brumfield, the newly elected school board chairman, breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank God,” he[Read More…]
An ultimatum for a struggling school district with few options
A school district in rural North Florida is in dire straits, prompting state education officials to grapple with unprecedented questions. What happens when a school district can no longer operate its own schools? That possibility came into view Tuesday, when the state Board of Education, for the third time, rejected[Read More…]
Charter school retaliation case moves to federal court
Almost two years ago, a group of Miami-Dade public school administrators won a first-of-its-kind verdict, when a Florida administrative law judge found their school district illegally thwarted their bid to convert the Neva King Special Education Center into a charter school. That case isn’t over. It’s now moved to federal court,[Read More…]
Miami-Dade schools face legal tab in charter school retaliation case
From the News Service of Florida An administrative law judge said Tuesday the Miami-Dade County School Board should pay $233,000 in attorneys’ fees in a case filed by employees who said they faced retaliation for trying to open a charter school. The legal-fees recommendation by Judge Edward T. Bauer, which[Read More…]
FL DOE: District retaliated against administrators in thwarted charter conversion
In the first case of its kind, the state has sided with two South Florida school administrators who faced retaliation for trying to convert their public school to a charter. This month’s ruling by the state Department of Education upholds the findings of an administrative law judge, who found Miami-Dade[Read More…]
Florida schools roundup: conversion charter, Common Core, Tony Bennett & more
Charter schools. An arts magnet in Manatee considers converting to a charter school because of the district’s ongoing financial woes. Bradenton Herald. Common Core. Hillsborough school board members voice all kinds of concerns about Common Core. Tampa Bay Times. Tony Bennett. StateImpact Florida gives ink to anonymous, garden variety critics.[Read More…]