“9 Investigates lawmakers' connections with charter schools.”




ORLANDO, Fla. — Over the past five years, the number of charter schools in Central Florida has climbed. These "nontraditional" public schools receive taxpayer money -- and 9 Investigates' George Spencer found some of the same lawmakers who are writing the rules for charter schools are also benefiting from them.

Dayspring Academy Charter School in Port Richie is thriving, as evidenced by the "Another 'A' Rating" banner on its website. Last March, its business administrator, John Legg, made a special request to change admission rules...

The school board did deny the request. But that didn't matter in the end as Legg, was also a powerful state representative, and the legislature soon changed laws to allow what Legg proposed.

"We, as taxpayers, need to be suspect about the motivation for pouring so many resources into charter schools," said Orange County public school parent Linda Kobert...

9 Investigates asked Florida Sen. David Simmons about the concerns, and he said conflict of interest changes are already in the works...

1 comment:

WALTER1939 said...

One of the primary abuse of the Private Charter School operations is the control of the admission policy.
They have a history now of "Open" enrollment of students with 'Problem discipline records' and retaining them only until they receive full semester student count enrollment payment from the State of Florida, The 'problem' students then are removed for discipline problems and sent to the Public Schools, who must accept all students.
However, the funding provided by the State of Florida does not transfer with the students sent to the Public Schools, it is retained by the Private Charter School and the Public School now must accept more students without added funding.
There is also no refund of parent costs to enroll their child at the Charter School nor books nor uniforms nor any other cost of the Charter School, since the student was sent away for cause.
These problem students have become a silent 'Cash Cow' for the Private Charter Schools since they never have to give up the full funding for the student nor any of the fees paid by the parents for enrollment.