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Charter Schools in Florida. What Is and What Ought to Be. What We’re Going to Cover. Overview of charter school system Our study and consensus on the state of charter schools in Florida Our recommendations for improving the system. The League of Women Voters.
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Charter Schools in Florida What Is and What Ought to Be
What We’re Going to Cover Overview of charter school system Our study and consensus on the state of charter schools in Florida Our recommendations for improving the system
The League of Women Voters We’re a nonpartisan political nonprofit organization Established in 1920 when women got the vote Men accepted since 1972 We serve voters and promote good governance We research, educate and advocate
A uniform, high quality school system of free public schools
CHARTERSare PRIVATELY RUN PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Who May Form a Charter School? Municipalities Individuals Legal Entities (districts, colleges or universities) Businesses
Charter Schools vs. District Schools Both must:
Charter Schools vs. District Schools Charters are exempt from:
District school boards elected by voters Charter school boards appointed by owners or management companies
Oversight Concerns Local elected school boards:
Oversight Recommendations Charter schools should have:
Funding + Enrollment + Facilities = School Management
Financial Requirements Charters must:
Enrollment Concerns Charters:
A True Story: Advantage of Choice A charter school principal gets to choose her: Teachers Parents Students That’s how “choice” can work.
Disadvantage for Parents The principal can choose to: Limit ESE services Require volunteer hours Favor certain demographics Favor those with transportation
What happens when a charter public school is financially or academically mismanaged? The school is closed.
Charter Mismanagement HIGHEST RATE OF CHARTER SCHOOL CLOSURES IN U.S.
Closed Charter Schools FACILITIES FUNDS AND EQUIPMENT Property Owner District School Board
Transparency and Accountability Charters must:
Lacking Performance Data Public data should include:
Are parents given good choices? • ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT NO HIGHER • DOUBLE THE TEACHER TURNOVER • NATIONAL LEADER IN SCHOOL CLOSURE
So what did we learn today about our position on charter schools?
League Consensus Improvements to charter schools are needed in:
Conflict of Interest Recommendations Florida laws should reduce:
THANK YOU Any questions? OF FLORIDA www.lwvfl.org