TALHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – On the 105th day of the 60-day legislative meeting, Florida lawmakers passed a bill that would allow charter schools to “co-host” within traditional public schools. This is the latest move by Republican-controlled Congress. Conservative Education Policy.
The measures to expand what is known as the “School of Hope” faced a fierce pushback from Democrats and public school advocates, and the proposal seemed to die in what appears to be the last day of a regularly scheduled session in May. But as budget speeches extended into the summer, lawmakers revived the measure, slipping it into the budget package, avoiding the usual review process for the law.
Lawmakers final approval of the bill Monday after 10pm.
Some of the groups lobbying for the measure include Citadel Enterprises Americas, Miami-based hedge fund billionaire and Republican mega-donor Kengriffin, an investment company launched by Republican Mega Donor Kengriffin, which has given millions of people to educational activities, including charter schools.
The bill, which now heads to the desk of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, will allow more charter school operators to open their desired schools and run in public schools that are under-rental.
State Assembly Member I created a program In 2017, to encourage more publicly funded private schools, traditional public schools opened in areas where they had failed for years, giving students and families in those areas a way to bail them out of schools that struggle for permanently.
“We see a lot of vacant and unused buildings paid by taxpayer dollars,” said Republican state legislator Jenna Parsons Muricka.
“We have operators who want to participate and provide the best education to those in the schools that have not had the largest education,” she added, adding, “Let’s give them the opportunity.”
Charter schools are often linked For-profit business benefits. For years, the Florida Legislature has expanded the landscape of school choices.
The bill also redefines which schools can be considered academically struggling. This “supports a significant increase in the number of schools designated as low-performing schools,” according to an early version of the measure’s analysis of legislative staff.
The bill will loosen the restrictions on where the desired school can run and open it within the walls of public schools (high-performance schools) if the campus is lacking or vacant.
That provision surprised Democrats when public districts, big and small, looked at them. Registration will decrease As Florida families choose charter, Private school Or homeschool options.
“It changes everything in the state for traditional public schools,” said Democrat Rep. Robin Bartleman.
“Why are you messing around with the school you work for?” she asked her Republican colleague. “This is a sin.”
The Florida measure also provides a way for charter school operators to bypass local school districts and provide applications to open schools at public universities and universities. Former Republican MP.
This year, Tennessee’s Republican-controlled state Capitol allowed charter school applicants to apply directly to the state board if their local school board repeatedly refuses an application within three years.
Republican leaders have long seen many local school boards as hostile to potential charter school operators. The result is a steady push for operators to find ways to apply to the state.
In recent years, Florida lawmakers have made it easier than ever for families to leave public schools after granting the state’s voucher program. All K-12 students to qualify For a scholarship funded to a taxpayer, regardless of household income.
___ Associated Press writer Kimberlee Kruesi contributed a report from Providence, Rhode Island. Payne is a legional member of the Associated Press/Reports’ American State University News Initiative. American Report It is a non-profit, national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms and reports on secret issues.
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