Figures…Top Bush Policy Wonk Writes ALEC Education Report and Declares Florida Rocks
Reports Gina Jordan in StateImpact:
Florida is the teacher’s pet in the American Legislative Exchange Council’s (ALEC) latest Report Card on American Education. The report ranks state K-12 performance, progress, and reform.
Florida comes in 12th in the most recent rankings, but it’s one of the leaders in making progress. Florida is also tied for first overall in policy – with four states getting a B+.
“I’m not sure everyone understands here in Florida just how much of a model for the rest of the country you are,” said Dr. Matt Ladner, a policy advisor at the Foundation for Excellence in Education.
“There are states all around the country that are emulating policies that originated here in the state
Florida House to School Districts: You Have to Give Your Unused Buildings to Charter Schools – For Free
Small wonder Orlando Sentinel reporter Leslie Postal sounds incredulous over this latest sop to charter school operators:
Florida school districts with empty — or half empty — school buildings would be required to offer those facilities to charter schools at no cost, under a bill a House education subcomittee has proposed.
Districts (and this is the kicker for some local officials) would also have to maintain the facility once the charter was using it “at the same standard and level it would maintain any other district-operated school similar in age and condition.”
The bill is a 36 pager that deals with many aspects of Florida’s charter school law. Overall, it reads as a charter-friendly proposal, though it contains a few items that look to increase charter school