The Florida Speaker of the House said that the legislation recently passed was designed to attract national charter chains to take over low-performing public schools, such no-excuses charter schools as KIPP, SEED, and Uncommon Schools.
But according to this article in Politico, the chains thus far are not interested. KIPP has only one school in Florida, the most charter-friendly state in the nation (some might say that California is the most charter-friendly state).
Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran wants nonprofits that have operated high-performing charter schools in other states to replicate their success here.
To that end, he’s made them an offer: $200 million to cover facilities costs, personnel and specialized educational offerings, plus a wish list of statutory and regulatory changes designed to help them prosper.
But it appears they’re not interested.
Several of the organizations the Land O’Lakes Republican has mentioned by name or that have appeared in front of House education committees — networks that operate charter schools in New York City, Boston, the suburbs of Washington, D.C., and Phoenix, among other locales — told POLITICO Florida they have no plans to open schools in the Sunshine State.
Others said the scenario Corcoran has proposed is not consistent with their models. The House’s plan would incentivize operators to open charters in neighborhoods where traditional public schools are struggling, potentially drawing out some or all of the students. An operator could also take over operations of a struggling school or convert it to a charter school, which are options that already exist under state law but would be enhanced by the proposal.

Basis and Uncommon Schools are not interested in a “turn around” contract because they would be unable to control the variables. These charter chains are probably aware that turn around ventures that do not control enrollment have been failures. They don’t want to sully their “brand.” They have set up shop in communities with vast potential for upward mobility like Brooklyn. They aren’t interested in Tampa.
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Quite so.
It would mean these charter chains would actually have to work hard and walk their own talk.
Now where’s the $tudent $ucce$$ in that?
😎
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“No excuses” contractor schools.
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Oh, the prison industrial complex is squirming excitedly in their seats: “no-excuses” has become such a devastating euphemism for MORE BODIES TO INCARCERATE.
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Huh? Schools of Hope? What a laugh. Actually, better name is Schools of CHOKE.
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