Charter Schools in Florida

Law:   Passed in 1996

Rank:   8th strongest of the nation's 40 charter laws

CER Grade:   B

Schools:   227

Students:  53,350

UPCOMING EVENTS

October 15-17, Orlando, FL: 8th Annual Florida Charter School Conference "Accountability for Schools of Choice". For more information go to http://www.fgse.nova.edu/nieo/conference/.

DEVELOPMENTS:

REPORT CARD: Schools in the Sunshine State received their annual grades last week, as authorized by the state's A+ Program, now in its fifth year. Of the state's charter schools, thirty-eight schools received "A's" and nine got "B's." Of the 88 tested, some 41 percent earned a B or above. Fourteen schools received an "F" grade. Get more information and a link to the report in CER's June 24, 2003, Newswire.
WIN-WIN: Governor Jeb Bush unveiled his class reduction size plan. The plan complies with the class size reduction amendment that passed with a 52 percent majority in the 2002 election. The proposal contains a number of elements that provide each district the greatest possible flexibility, equity and accountability. Charter schools are a major component to implementing the amendment. As schools of choice, charters themselves are not subject to class size reduction, but the proposal calls for an elimination of the cap on the number of charter schools allowed in each district. This will give more children the ability to leave crowded public schools and attend charters. It's a win-win for everyone. CER Newswire January 28, 2003.
COMMUTER CHOICE: Responding to competition and parents' desire for alternatives, the Miami-Dade County school board announced plans to open the district's first commuter elementary school. The school will be open to children in neighboring counties whose parents work in Miami. The district school will be Miami's second designed to serve students whose families work in the area. The first, the Downtown Miami Charter School, opened in September. From CER Newswire November 26, 2002.
FEDERAL FUNDING: The feds announced the delivery of new federal funds under the public charter school grant program. The program provides up to $198 million for individual charter schools, research grants and best practices dissemination. To the program's credit, states like Florida and New York received substantial funds for their growing number of charter schools. From CER Newswire October 8, 2002. For a complete list of the grants, go to http://www.ed.gov/PressReleases/10-2002/10072002.html.
STIFF AS A BOARD: Charter schools in this state seem to get a lot more respect, and a lot more parity in funding. But it's causing the state’s school board association to go haywire. Wayne Blanton, that group’s director, was quoted by the press as saying that he may have to do something about that soon. "We’re not opponents of charter schools, but if something keeps getting shoved down your throat without you having any say in it, it’s difficult to be a strong supporter." Watch out, Florida! (From CER Monthly Letter June 2002.)
MAKING LEMONADE: In early March, 2002, the Escambia County School Board voted to turn the embattled A.A. Dixon Elementary School into the Dixon Comprehensive Elementary Charter School. A. A. Dixon was one of the two schools in the Pensacola area that received a second "F" allowing students to become eligible to use Opportunity Scholarships under the Florida A+ Plan. After the School Board began the closure process, a group of community leaders came together and asked the Board for time to present a charter school application. The community support apparently swayed the Board and we are happy to report that the school will reopen as a charter in the fall. Congratulations on taking lemons and making community lemonade.
CHOICE MEANS ACCOUNTABILITY: Florida's A+ Education Program has meant more accountability for schools and more opportunities for children. By offering resources coupled with scholarships for kids in failing schools, the A+ Plan has driven improvement throughout the Sunshine State. This brochure outlines the A+ Plan and what it has meant for Florida's children.
MONEY MATTERS: Florida is one of the few states that incorporates capital and facility expenses into its charter law. Charter schools receive one-fifteenth of the capital cost per pupil allocated by the state for specific grade levels. Charter schools also receive monies to purchase property, conduct construction or renovations, or to make lease payments through its School Infrastructure Thrift (SIT) Awards. Once a charter school reaches its third year, it may receive monies from the Public Education Capital Outlay (PECO) and Service Trust Fund. Solving the Charter School Financing Conundrum

ACHIEVEMENT:

JUVENILE JUSTICE: The PAL Academy Charter Schools of Manatee County, Inc. received their third charter contract. This one was awarded by the Manatee School Board for the first Department of Juvenile Justice charter school in the state. The charter school will provide educational services to adjudicated youth in partnership with the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, the Manatee County Sheriff's office and the PAL Academy Charter Schools of Manatee County, Inc. CER Newswire, June 27, 2000

RESOURCES:

Profile of Florida Charter School Law .

Links to Florida Charter School Websites .

SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS:

Florida Consortium of Charter Schools 1217 Southeast 3rd Avenue Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316	Contact: Robert Haag Phone: 954-522-2997 Fax: 954-522-3199 Website: www.fcae.nova.edu/charters Email: Cse97@bellsouth.net
Florida Consortium of Charter Schools is a resource center organized to serve, support, and promote charter schools in Florida.

Florida Charter School Resource Center 4202 East Fowler Avenue, HMS 401 Tampa, FL 33620	Tel: 813-974-8350 Fax: 813-974-7823 Website: www.charterschools.usf.edu
Provides training, support, and assistance to Florida charter schools and acts as a clearinghouse to provide information on charter schools to the public.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:

Office of School Choice and Charter Schools Florida Department of Education 325 Gaines Street, 514 Turlington Building Tallahassee, FL 32399	Contact: Rufus Ellis , Director Tel: 850-414-0780
Website: http://www.fldoe.org/