A proposal filed this week in the Florida Legislature would roll out the welcome mat for charter school networks that have strong track records serving low-income students.
The bill is the latest in series of efforts to make the Sunshine State more hospitable to nationally recognized charter school organizations like KIPP.
Under SB 796, filed by Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach, charter organizations would have to apply to the state Board of Education for “high-impact” status. The board would look at the students they serve, as well as years achievement data, to decide if they qualify.
Florida law gives certain privileges to academically high-performing charter schools. High-impact organizations would get those privileges as soon as they’re approved.They would also qualify immediately for state facilities funding, rather than having to wait two years. If they opened in “critical needs” areas identified by the state, they could operate without the 5 percent management fees charters typically have to pay school districts.
High-impact charter school organizations would also be allowed to function as “local education agencies” under federal law. Among other things, that would allow them to receive federal funding directly. Right now, most federal funding that goes to charters has to come through districts, which has led to legal disputes over federal funding for low-income and special needs students.
The bill would also put high-impact charter groups in the front of the line for federal charter school grants, which state officials hope will bring more charter schools to high-needs areas of the state.
This issue has bounced around the Legislature for several years. But it’s likely this year it will find new momentum. We’ll have more on this in the coming days.
I think charter schools are good
This is a good blog