FLORIDA

Allison Padavan

Legislative History
In the Florida legislature some common fears were echoed in a 
two day debate over the issue of school choice.  The hope of 
proponents was a quality education for the children of the 
state. Critics feared a variety of consequences: one concern 
was that minority students from families uninformed about 
such choices may be left out, coupled with the so called 
"creaming effect." 
Individual members of both houses expressed concerns about 
returning to segregation and their displeasure with the 
possibilities that school vouchers might follow the 
establishment of charter schools.  Several black legislators 
charged that charter schools would not only lead to 
segregation but "set up a system for the affluent (The Miami 
Herald, 4/21/94)."
The Governor of Florida, Lawton Chiles, supports the 
legislation and, working very closely with his Education 
Commissioner Frank Brogan, countered the opposition's claims 
by stating that charter schools would benefit minorities in 
poorer neighborhoods.  They were able to form a coalition of 
support  including five black lawmakers in both houses.  
The original bill did not include money for transportation, 
which would be detrimental to poor children since getting to 
school would be more difficult for their parents to afford.  
This concern was resolved by  a compromise that  required 
that sixty percent of transportation costs must be provided 
by local school districts (The Miami Herald 4/21/94).
Concerns relevant to the original legislation included: how 
charter school applications would be appealed to the State 
Education Department if turned down by local school boards; 
how many charter schools a given school district could have; 
how the charter schools would be governed and the issue of 
religious affiliation.

Salient points of the bill
        As of this point in time there appears to be agreement 
that religious organizations will not be able to run charter 
schools.  As of the recess on May 13 the houses reached an 
agreement on the number of charter schools per district: 
districts with 50,000 or more are allowed five schools, 
those with fewer than 20,000 are allowed only two schools.  
Agreement  on the appeal process was also reached: if a local 
school district turns down an application for a charter 
school, the applicant may appeal to the State Board of 
Education.  Further discussion of the bill and the final vote 
will resume in next year's session. 
 
  POINTS FROM THE BILL:
 FORMATION 
        Charter schools may be formed either:
        (a) By creating a new school.  A proposal for a new 
charter school may be made by an individual, teachers, 
parents, a group of individuals, a for-profit corporation, or 
a non profit corporation.
        (b)By converting an existing school to charter status. 
In the case of an existing public school, the proposers shall 
be the principal, teachers, and/or parents at the school.

SPONSORS
        a) The organizers of a charter school may apply to, and 
the school may be sponsored by, any of the following:
        1. The district school board
        2. The State Board of Education
        3. The Board of Regents
        
        b) The district school board shall have the first right 
of refusal.  Within 60 days a decision to deny or accept the 
charter application shall be made.  The entity applying 
for the charter may then apply sponsors If a district 
school board denies a charter,  the school board shall 
provide a written description of the reasons for the denial 
to the applicant.  The applicant must include this document 
any following application  made to alternate sponsors.
        c) The sponsor shall accept the responsibility to monitor 
the flow of cash and    disbursements to the charter school
NUMBER OF SCHOOLS
        d) Up to three charter schools in districts with 50,000 
or more students
          No more than one school in districts with fewer than 
50,000 students

Conclusions
        The legislation will pass a form of the charter school 
bill in the upcoming session.  Encouragement from 
legislators, such as Governor Chiles, may have an impact on 
seeing that as many charter schools are formed as possible 
benefit poor students a choice, where previously none 
existed.