Yesterday we looked at some of the misconceptions about how Florida charter schools must operate. Today we’ll take a look at a couple of charter contracts to see the different requests school districts make of charter applicants. Seminole County asked Galileo School for Gifted Learning to abide by the class size limits for district schools, […]
If Michele Gill learned anything from helping open a Seminole County charter school this fall it’s this: Charter schools cannot do anything they want. Despite some public perceptions, Gill said opening Galileo School for Gifted Learning has meant navigating a complicated network of state and federal regulations. Then school leaders have to make sure the […]
Charter Schools USA is one of Florida’s largest for-profit management companies, with 25,000 students in three states. The company was just awarded a contract to help turn around three Indiana schools taken over by the state. Charter Schools USA CEO Jonathon Hage is a one-time adviser to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and helped draft […]
For 15 years Florida has conducted an experiment in public education. The goal was to improve the entire education system by granting charter schools more leeway to innovate. Welcome to StateImpact Florida’s Charter Schools 101 series examining the effect those schools have had on students, teachers, parents and communities — and what comes next. One […]
Pasco County is considering a four-day school week next year to save about $3.5 million, the St. Petersburg Times reports. Bus drivers and cafeteria workers would lose one day of work a week. Teachers would no longer be paid for five lunch breaks each week. A 33-member task force will decide whether to recommend shortening […]
Every school district in Florida is dealing with layoffs and budget cuts. But Broward County in South Florida is facing the largest budget deficit in the state—more than $140 million. And its forced teachers and students in the nation’s 6th largest school district to get creative about spending money. Students at South Broward High in […]
Got plans for Thanksgiving? If you live in Broward County you might need to reschedule. Broward County will close schools and furlough teachers on Monday and Tuesday of Thanksgiving week in addition to the traditional Wednesday through Friday holiday. Parents told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that they will have to scramble to arrange child care. […]
Voters would once again choose Florida’s top education official if a bill proposed by a state senator becomes law. Stuart Republican Sen. Joe Negron introduced the constitutional amendment to elect the Commissioner of Education Monday. The commissioner has been appointed since voters amended the state constitution in 1998. Negron’s bill would also dissolve the state […]
Pinellas County school board members are trying to move up a hearing on Superintendent Julie Janssen’s future with the district, according to the St. Petersburg Times. Board members declined to say whether they would support Janssen staying on at the proposed Aug. 23rd meeting. “‘We need to have, I don’t want to say closure, but […]
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