From the St. Petersburg Times Gradebook
by Jeff Solochek
Keeping with new state law, the Florida Department of Education has blessed 104 charter schools as "high performing" this year. The appellation grants these schools added powers, making it even more difficult for local school boards to govern them. (See Pasco County's recent deliberations over a Charter Schools USA application.)
The new abilities granted to these high performers include adding enrollment annually without outside permission, expanding grade levels without sponsor approval, getting 15 year contracts, and opening "replicated" schools anywhere in Florida with minimal barriers. Of course, that replication is limited to one per year, but that hasn't stopped some operators from proposing several all over the state. Keep an eye on that one.
Which are these "high performing" schools?
They include schools run by or connected to lawmakers, including Rep. John Legg (Dayspring Academy in Pasco) and Rep. Seth McKeel (South McKeel Academy and McKeel Elementary Academy in Polk), Rep. Erik Fresen (several Academica schools in Miami-Dade) and Sen. Anitere Flores (Doral Academy in Miami-Dade). Others include Hillsborough's Terrace Academy, Literacy Leadership Training Academy and Learning Gate Community School, Pinellas' Pinellas Preparatory, Plato Academy, St. Petersburg Collegiate and Academie da Vinci and Hernando's Gulf Coast Academy.
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/content/your-florida-charter-school-high-performing
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