Over the course of decades spent analyzing public policy, I’ve seen numerous instances of poorly conceived legislation and ineffective policy implementation. I don’t know that I have ever seen one as potentially disastrous as Schools of Hope, a giveaway to what one might call the charter school industrial complex.
Let me first say that I am not opposed to charter schools in the least. I have argued for many years that while Florida’s countywide school district model should theoretically allow for a level of scale that promotes greater efficiency, it too often yields administrative bloat and institutional decay.
The charter-conversion model, in which existing schools that can secure the overwhelming support of staff and parents of students can convert into a district charter school more capable of addressing the specific needs of a unique community or population, has proven successful. Rowlette Middle, SCF Collegiate School, and Manatee School for the Arts are good examples.
Perhaps the best example was Lincoln Memorial Academy, a charter conversion that, much to the chagrin of the Palmetto community it had been serving, was scandalously retaken by the district in a dubious and corrupt process. I wrote a three-part series and conducted two long-form podcast interviews with its founder, Eddie Hundley, which can be found here.
The Florida Legislature created the Schools of Hope program in 2017. It was a legislative priority of then-Representative Dick Corcoran, who Gov. Ron DeSantis would appoint as Education Commissioner before installing him as President of New College of Florida.
Corcoran’s idea was to give hundreds of millions of dollars to charter school operators who would compete in communities where schools had consistently underperformed. The schools would be opened in the attendance zone or within a five-mile radius of a "persistently low performing school," defined as one that has received three consecutive years of Ds or Fs according to the state's A-to-F grading scale.
In 2019, the program was expanded when the legislature broadened the definition of "persistently low performing" to schools that have earned at least three Ds or Fs in the last five years. Limitations on location were broadened to "opportunity zones," neighborhoods identified as economically depressed in President Trump's 2017 tax plan, of which Florida has over 400.
Legislation that would have expanded the program further died in this year’s legislative session, passing in the House but failing to receive a vote in the Senate. However, as the chambers scrambled to pass a budget, the changes were quietly tucked into a broader education bill with no debate and seemingly few legislators who understood the magnitude of the changes.
Schools of Hope are now allowed to "co-locate" at schools deemed underutilized based on enrollment versus maximum capacity, regardless of the school's academic performance, and without consideration for other administrative or programming uses the district may be utilizing the space for. Charter school operators can simply move into space not directly used as classrooms, while the school district pays for utilities, busing, custodians, and cafeteria service for the charter students at no cost to its operators.
Two Manatee County public schools have already received notice from a South Florida charter school company that intends to do so: Sara Scott Harllee Center and Lincoln Memorial Middle School—the name given to LMA after the district revoked its charter. The legislation does not provide school districts with meaningful recourse, and it is clear that these companies intend to use the changes to rapidly expand charter operations in the state and ultimately take over the schools where they are co-located.
This ill-conceived approach to education policy could represent an existential threat to public education as we know it. Charter school operators, their lobbyists, and the legislators who benefit from their campaign funding are fine with that. However, the local communities affected (which stands to be pretty much every single community in the state) would do well to demand that their local delegations cure this legislative miscarriage immediately, even if a special legislative session is required.
Dennis "Mitch" Maley is an editor and columnist for The Bradenton Times and the host of our weekly podcast. With over two decades of experience as a journalist, he has covered Manatee County government since 2010. He is a graduate of Shippensburg University and later served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. Click here for his bio. Mitch is also the author of three novels and a short story collection available here. He can be reached at editor@thebradentontimes.com.
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charliekennedy
For those interested, the school board held a discussion of the matter at our October 10th workshop. Starts at the 1hour, 19min mark.
https://www.youtube.com/live/8YX2pPPA9qA?si=YrFreF1P3JbLHDdB
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Saturday, October 18 Report this
lib224
Republicans have to really, really, really hate public education to come up with this monstrosity.
Sunday, October 19 Report this
David Daniels
This past Tuesday, October 14th, Bradenton's State Senator and insurance company executive Jim Boyd became the Senate President of Florida. That position gives him tremendous power and control over proposed legislation.Just like our BoCC has reached out to Mr. Boyd about SB180, I'm sure our school leaders have reached out to him about this law that allows private, out of state schools to use taxpayer owned schools rent-free. Just like SB180, if a Jim Boyd wanted to make amendments to these laws, bills would be introduced and passed. Boyd has that much power because, as Senate President, he controls much of the party's PAC money. He also determines which projects (museums, parks, buildings) make it into the final budget. Voters need to pay attention to Mr. Boyd's actions (not his words) this upcoming session. Will he continue to represent developers and big campaign donors, or will he change and work in the public's interest?
Sunday, October 19 Report this
Cat L
Private interests have been pushing to privatize our whole system, as well as funnel insane amounts of profit to those same people and their helpers. Charter schools are publicly traded and weren't doing well originally, so investors had to get their pet politicians involved.
This is a push to reduce the available options, so people can't choose anything that doesn't make them money. (And the vouchers pay for it with tax money)
Sunday, October 19 Report this
pattybeenutty
Lib224, they want the money in their pockets. It is not about education. It is also about segregation.
All schools and homeschool students should be tested with the same tests as our public charters and public schools. I would like to see the scores!
If they use our facilities, they should pay their own expenses since they receive $9,000 a year, I believe, for every student they take.
Public schools are not the problem! Politicians and Education commissioners are!
Sunday, October 19 Report this
sandy
Sound familiar? Last minute change to legislature bill? To house a charter school in a public, taxpayer funded school at no cost (rent, utilities, maintenance, transportation, food, etc.) is wrong on so many levels. That's pure profit for the charter schools. Taxpayers are literally paying the expenses for the students in the charter school. DeSantis must really hate the taxpayers of the state and is well paid by developers and owners of charters. Who knows what the next disastrous bill will be passed this upcoming legislative session. Shame on our state representatives for supporting these horrible bills to the detriment of the citizens they profess to represent.
Monday, October 20 Report this