The state picks charter schools over school districts

From Scathing Purple Musings

by Bob Sykes

You really didn’t think a state commission stocked with hand-picked political appointees would rule against Charter Schools USA CEO Jonathan Hage? You know that guy who was on Rick Scott’s education transition team? And the same guy who’s recognized as an education reform rock star by Jeb Bush’s education foundation? Or the same guy who’s corporation has dumped big bucks into the campaign coffers of state GOP legislators and their state party. And Jeb Bush’s foundation, too?

From the Orlando Sentinel:

The commission said Orange County was wrong to deny an application by Renaissance Charter School, which wants to open a school in the district this fall. In October the School Board turned the school down in part because the company has not successfully opened a school, Orange County Charter, that had been approved a year earlier in Orange County.

District officials also cited a close relationship between the applicant and the management company – Charter Schools USA – as well as budget questions and other concerns.

The Orange county school board vigorously opposed Hage’s Renaissance satellite. I predicted that Hage would prevail in November. The Seminole school board, which was granted an appeal victory over Florida Virtual School, will have to face Hage’s Charter Schools USA in another appeal. Anyone want to wager a bet that Seminole will lose this time?

http://bobsidlethoughtsandmusings.wordpress.com/2012/02/07/shocker-state-rules-in-favor-of-charter-schools-usa-and-its-well-connected-ceo-over-the-orange-county-school-board/