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. (more…)

Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran addresses reporters during a media briefing ahead of the Spring legislative session.

Florida's High-poverty urban areas shouldn't have to rely on wealthy backers to attract top charter schools, the state's House speaker told reporters this morning.

If the state wants more charters with national reputations for serving low-income students, he said, policies will need to change.

Speaking at an annual media briefing hosted by the Associated Press, Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O' Lakes, lamented the fact that Florida has a lone collection of KIPP schools in Jacksonville and a single public charter boarding school — SEED Miami.

Both institutions receive annual line-item appropriations from the Legislature. The funding is intended to cover the cost of the extra instructional time needed to help low-income students catch up academically. But that funding doesn't cover all of their costs. (more…)