The number of for-profit charter schools continues to grow at a rapid pace each year and now makes up nearly half of all charter schools in the state. In this report, Integrity Florida pulls back the veil to take a comprehensive look at what’s really behind the charter school phenomena.
Charter schools were originally proposed as teacher-run schools that would use innovative techniques to be shared with traditional schools. Over time, the concept changed to set up a competitive relationship between charters and traditional schools rather than a cooperative one.
Since 1998, the report finds that more than 373 charter schools have closed their doors in Florida, causing problems for some school districts. Local school boards have seen reduced ability to manage the schools in their districts.
The legislature has modified the original Florida charter school law significantly over the years to encourage creation of new charters, increase the number of students in charter schools and to enhance funding of charters, sometimes at the expense of traditional schools.
Key Findings Include:
- Charter schools were originally proposed as teacher-run schools that would use innovative techniques to be shared with traditional schools. Over time, the concept changed to set up a competitive relationship between charters and traditional schools rather than a cooperative one.
- Charter schools have largely failed to deliver the education innovation that was originally promised and envisioned.
- Since 1998, at least 373 charter schools have closed their doors in Florida.
- Lax regulation of charter schools has created opportunities for financial mismanagement and criminal corruption.
- Local school boards have seen reduced ability to manage charter schools in their districts.
Read the full report here.
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