The Florida Senate wants to increase the role of military base commanders in creating charter schools on their installations.

At its core, the Senate's charter school legislation remains short and simple, placing it on a potential collision course with the House, which has proposed a broader overhaul of Florida charter school laws.

Under the latest rewrite, approved Wednesday by the Senate Education Appropriations subcommittee, the Senate legislation would allow military commanders to sit on charter school governing boards and to submit applications to open charter schools on their bases.

It would avoid more contentious changes to charter school statutes.

Earlier this year, supporters withdrew an appeal to open a charter school on MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa after their plan was rebuffed by the local school district (more background here). They have pledged to rework the application and make another attempt.

The issue got the attention of lawmakers, who already have approved legislation intended to encourage charter schools for military families. Sen. John Legg, R-Trinity, said the new charter school legislation would "recognize that there are unique needs at our military installations."

Democrats proposed a series of other changes to the bill, some them backed by school districts. But they were defeated after Legg and others warned the amendments could make it more difficult for new charter schools to open. The committee heard wide-ranging debate and testimony about various other provisions that are no longer in the bill, but remain part of the House legislation.

"One thing I've learned in the Legislature in my now going on 10 sessions is every year we'll debate a budget, and every year we'll debate charter schools," Legg said. "This is the charter school debate of 2014, but it deals with military charter schools, and that's it."

School choice. Democratic contender Nan Rich blasts both Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist for supporting vouchers. Sunshine State News.

Charter schools. A bill encouraging collaboration on charter schools at military bases heads to Gov. Rick Scott, the Tampa Bay Times reports.  The governor says he'll sign in it. News Service of Florida. More from the Tampa Tribune. A charter-school students wins Broward County's spelling bee. Miami Herald.

Magnet Schools. The Pinellas County School Board approved two new magnet schools focused on technology. Tampa Bay Times.

School technology. Collier County schools officials revisit their policy allowing students to bring their own devices. Naples Daily News.

Testing. A discussion about the FCAT replacement, whatever that might be. StateImpact Florida. Orange County officials worry whether they'll be ready for the new tests in time. Orlando Sentinel.

Construction funding. Polk County school district officials fear a $238 million funding gap for school facilities. Lakeland Ledger.

School safety. The gun bill is back, and gaining traction. Extra Credit. A Broward student is charged for bringing an AR-15 rifle near a high school campus. Sun-Sentinel.

Common Core. The Brevard County School Board adopts new textbooks intended to align with the state's new standards. Florida Today.

School boards. The Manatee school board votes unanimously to request that the Inspector General investigate possibly malfeasance by board members between 2010 and 2012. Bradenton Herald. More from the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Teacher pay. Dozens of Orange County teachers rally for raises. Orlando Sentinel.

Update: The bill with the charter school language is headed to Gov. Rick Scott's desk after the Senate approved it this morning on a 38-0 vote.

Florida lawmakers are set to approve a proposal intended to help military bases offer more education options for children of their personnel.

The move comes amid a high-profile effort to create a charter school at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. The organization looking to create the school withdrew its first application last week after being denied by the Hillsborough County School Board and losing its first state appeal.

A provision added to the  "Florida G.I. Bill" would add new language to the state's charter schools law, calling for commanders on bases to "collaboratively work with the Commissioner of Education to increase military family student achievement, which may include the establishment of charter schools on military installations."

SB 860 contains a number of provisions aimed at helping the state's veterans, from extending hiring preferences to charging them in-state tuition at colleges and universities. The Senate is scheduled to take it up today on the floor. The House passed its version, which also includes a charter schools provision, on the first day of the session.

Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, faced questions from Democrats on the Appropriations Committee last week when he helped add the charter schools provision to the Senate bill. They wanted to know if it would change the process for charter school approvals or affect the MacDill application. (The Florida Charter Educational Foundation withdrew its application later that day, and has pledged to revise and resubmit it).

Richter said the proposal "does not affect the MacDill situation." It simply "encourages the MacDill base to work with the school district" and "recognizes the unique characteristics of our military families with deployment and certain other circumstances."

Richter could not be reached for comment Monday. (more…)

From a press release issued tonight: 

The Florida Charter Educational Foundation, Inc. met today to discuss the best course of action in serving the needs of military families at MacDill Air Force Base. The board voted to withdraw the current appeal being considered by the State Board of Education to open the MacDill Charter Academy on base at MacDill Air Force Base. The board will make revisions and clarifications based on the Charter Schools Appeals Commission’s concerns and resubmit the application in the very near future.

The decision to withdraw the appeal was rooted in the board’s desire to make the process go more smoothly.

“Our goal is to serve the needs of students of our military families as efficiently as possible. To achieve that goal, we decided that the best course of action is to make some minor revisions to the application and resubmit it,” said Ken Haiko, president of the Florida Charter Educational Foundation. “Our proposal is still solid as it stands but if a few clarifications will help the process go more smoothly, in the end, the students will benefit and that’s our focus.”

The new application will be resubmitted as soon as possible and will be sent to the Hillsborough School District. The district then has 60 days from submission to make a decision. (more…)

A bill aimed at streamlining charter school applications and a proposed expansion of Florida's tax credit scholarship program have gotten their share of headlines going in to the Florida legislative session that starts today.

But those are far from the only school choice measures in play. Here is a rundown, not quite exhaustive, of school choice legislation worth keeping an eye on over the next 60 days:

SB 850 would require community colleges to establish “collegiate high schools” that would be open to students throughout their target service areas. The new institutions would allow students to complete their first year of college by the time they receive their high school diplomas. A Senate panel today will consider merging it with a House bill that would create an “early warning system” for middle school students.

SB 790 has already gotten attention for increasing the state's financial commitment to digital learning. A provision inserted by Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, should resonate with people following the effort to open a new charter school at MacDill Air Force Base. It would codify the Legislature’s intent to “encourage military installation commanders to collaboratively work with the Commissioner of Education to increase military family student achievement, which may include the establishment of charter schools on military installations.”

HB 533 aims to expand access to extracurricular activities for home-school, private school, charter school and virtual school students. Right now, state law allows those students to join sports teams at nearby public schools. This bipartisan proposal would broaden that provision to include performing arts, debate clubs and other extracurricular activities. It would also allow private school students to participate in activities at other schools in their district if they are zoned to a public school that doesn’t offer them.

SB 1512 , sponsored by Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, would create “Personalized Accounts for Learning,” similar to education savings accounts, for some students with disabilities. It would allow parents of children with conditions like autism and cerebral palsy to use up to 90 percent of the state’s core per-pupil funding to cover expenses like private school tuition, certain kinds of therapy, or instructional materials tailored to their child’s needs. The House Choice and Innovation Subcommittee is expected to discuss a similar idea today. (more…)

A charter school sought by MacDill Air Force Base in Florida has lost the first round of an appeals process.

The Florida Charter School Appeal Commission on Monday sided with the Hillsborough County School District, which had denied an application for the proposed school. The case will now go before the state Board of Education, which is scheduled to make the final decision March 18.

"As we’ve known from the very beginning of this journey, building a charter school on a military base is a very complex process and this phase is just one more step in that process,'' said Colleen Reynolds, a spokeswoman for the applicant, Florida Charter Educational Foundation and its partner, Charter Schools USA.

"Although this advisory panel did not recommend overturning the district’s denial, the need for military families is well-documented and was reinforced again today,'' Reynolds said in a prepared statement. "Ultimately, the State Board of Education will determine whether or not the denial should be overturned and we are committed to continue the fight for military families who want this educational option available on base for their children. We will not give up on doing what’s right for students.''

The foundation applied in August for a charter to build an 875-student K-8 school that would provide a middle school option for military families who live on and off the base. MacDill Charter Academy also would help ease crowding at the district-run elementary school at MacDill, proponents said.

The Hillsborough County School Board denied the application in December, following a recommendation from Superintendent MaryEllen Elia. (more…)

For retired Air Force Sgt. Greg Parmer, having a K-8 charter school at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Fla., would give military families more and better options for middle school.

For Amanda Madden, who lives on the base with her husband, a technical sergeant, and two sons, such a school would also be an opportunity for something better at the elementary school level.

“I’m more trusting of a school on base as opposed to a public (district) school,” she said.

Quality, convenience, a better fit for military families – supporters of a proposed charter school at MacDill have raised those points repeatedly in recent months as one of the best-known military bases in the country squares off against one of the nation’s biggest school districts. But conspicuously absent from the debate has been the voices of military families themselves.

In interviews with redefinED, Parmer and Madden echoed many of the concerns that other supporters have already raised. At the same time, they offered more detail about frustrations they say led them – and perhaps other military families – to consider the possibility of a charter school.

“Most of our families live in Brandon and Riverview (on the other side of town),’’ said Parmer, a father of three who lives near the base. Having a K-8 on base would be a huge plus for them, he said.

The proposed MacDill Charter Academy would serve up to 875 students and is being considered as the base expands housing to accommodate 600 new families. The Hillsborough County School Board voted down the academy application in December, citing problems with the school’s governing structure and other issues. But the school’s backers have appealed, with the state Charter School AppealCommission set to consider the matter on Feb. 24.

Parmer’s concerns focus on middle school options.

MacDill families have few complaints about Tinker Elementary, the A-rated elementary school that’s run by the district on base. But there is some grumbling about Monroe Middle School, which is near the base and earned a C grade from the state this year.

Parmer said he and his wife, Kimberly, who works as a secretary on the base, weren’t necessarily expecting a private-school atmosphere when they learned their daughter and son, and a nephew who lives with the family, would attend Monroe in 2011. But the school turned out to be culture shock for the Parmer kids, who had gone to U.S. Department of Defense schools in Germany and Japan. (more…)

There’s a noteworthy backdrop behind the tug-of-war over a proposed charter school for MacDill Air Force Base in Florida: The U.S. Department of Defense is re-thinking how its on-base schools serve military families. And charter schools are among the options being considered.

As part of an ongoing assessment, the DOD is looking at the costs and operations of 60 schools, on 15 North American military bases, to see if it can better balance expenses with the educational needs of its military families. The study, conducted by the Rand Corp., will look at school programs and performance, and offer recommendations that could result in some DOD schools becoming charters.

Although eight military bases across the country already have embraced the model, the DOD is not advocating charters or any other option, said Elaine Kanellis, a department spokeswoman. The nontraditional public schools, which tend to have lower per-pupil costs, are just one idea among several being considered.

Other alternatives include leaving the schools as they are, or closing them and transferring students to local district schools. The department also could create a new public school district under state law.

“There is no one-size-fits-all solution,’’ Kanellis said.

Rand will talk with focus groups of parents, teachers, military personnel and education experts. The nonprofit think tank also will compare the performance of DOD schools to surrounding schools. A final decision will be made at the Pentagon level when the study ends, sometime after the summer.  (more…)

Spurred by conflict over a proposed charter school at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida lawmakers will consider creating an expedited application process for on-base charter schools serving military families, an influential state senator said Monday.

“That’s a hard pill to swallow when a base commander is saying we want options and the local government, for whatever reason, has not allowed them to go down that path,” Sen. John Legg, who chairs the Senate Education Committee, told redefinED. “So as a result, we’re going to be looking at options to offer more choices to our veterans.”

Legg’s comments come in the wake of last month’s decision by the Hillsborough County School District, the eighth-largest in the nation, to deny a charter school sought by MacDill, home to U.S. Central Command. The base commander and other supporters said a charter school could better serve the needs of military children, but district officials said they were concerned about the proposed school’s governing structure. The decision is being appealed.

Legg, R-Lutz, said he doesn’t have the details on any proposed legislation yet, and is unsure when it may be filed. He said it’s likely the bill will encompass a variety of proposals to benefit military families, and not be limited to education. He also said such a bill is a priority for Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, whose district is near Eglin Air Force Base in the Panhandle and home to a high number of military retirees.

The bill is likely to include a measure to create a separate application process for charter schools that are sought by military bases on the grounds of military bases, Legg said. It’s also likely to include language that would give military families priority with the enrollment process for such schools, as well as similar, military-themed schools off base. “Rational minds I think would agree that military family needs are different than other family needs,” said Legg, who works as a charter school administrator.

Legg said he didn’t want to “cast aspersions” on the charter school denial in Hillsborough, and he praised Hillsborough Superintendent MaryEllen Elia, who led the charge against the application. But he said the decision did prompt he and other lawmakers to “examine this process.”

Legg also said other lawmakers who represent districts near military bases have heard similar concerns about tensions between base and school district leaders over the education of military children. “This issue is not an anomaly,” Legg said. “This has been an ongoing discussion recently and the overarching consensus is we need to find more options for our military service students.”

Florida parents continue to choose charter schools in growing numbers, according to a new national report and fresh state statistics.

Eleven Florida school districts now have 10 percent or more of their public school students enrolled in charter schools, shows the report released Tuesday by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools. They are Lee (at 14 percent), Broward, Miami-Dade, Sarasota (all at 13 percent), Lake, Polk, Osceola (all at 12 percent), Bay, Indian River (both at 11 percent), and Leon and Manatee (both at 10 percent.)

Four Florida districts are also among the Top 10 nationwide in charter school enrollment growth: Duval, Hillsborough, Orange and Palm Beach.

Hillsborough is one of five districts in the Top 10 two years in a row. Its school board voted Tuesday to deny a proposed charter school aimed at serving military families at MacDill Air Force Base, home of U.S. Central Command.

The alliance report looks at growth in charter school market share nationwide. It's based on 2012-13 data.

According to the latest FDOE stats, requested by redefinED last week, Florida now has 229,233 students in charter schools. That's up 25,993 students, or 13 percent, from last year.

Long a leader in the charter school movement, Florida now has more K-12 students in charter schools than 11 states have K-12 public school students.