In Florida how well Charter Schools do doesn't matter

From Scathing Purple Musings

by Bob Sykes

Florida Education Commissioner Gerard Robinson said Tuesday the state application for opening charter schools doesn’t need to address performance.

The application doesn’t take into account whether a charter organization already has schools open and how those schools are performing.

KIPP Jacksonville has applied to open two new elementary schools in the Duval County even though KIPP Impact Middle earned an “F” after its first year.

Robinson was in Amelia Island Tuesday as part of a panel at the annual National Association of Charter School Authorizers Leadership Conference. The association focuses on improving the policies and practices of organizations responsible for authorizing charter schools.

Oh NO HE DIDN”T! Even the host director of the charter school organization wouldn’t go that far.

Greg Richmond, president of the National Association of Charter School Authorizers, said a poorly performing school shouldn’t be approved to open new schools.

“KIPP nationally is a great organization, but every school still has to earn its own way,” Richmond said.

“So if you’re an ‘F’ school, you’ve got to bring that grade up before you can start talking about opening some more schools.”

Someone needs to call Robinson on this. Maybe it will be Sen. David Simpson who’s been expressing concern for the high number of failing charter schools. The education commissioner is going to have to walk back this comment as he gives the appearance of running interference for his boss. It’s Rick Scott’s KIPP schools cronie,, Gary Chartrand, who’s seeks to open more charter schools. Why on earth – in this climate of hyper accountability – would Robinson in any way infer that performance doesn’t matter?

http://bobsidlethoughtsandmusings.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/robinson-says-charter-school-performance-doesnt-matter-in-application-process/