More proof charter schools aren't public schools

From the Ledger.com by Jason Geary


Polk Charter Schools Association filed a lawsuit Tuesday that claims charter school students aren't given as much money for their education as traditional district school students.



"Both schools are public schools," said Robin Gibson, a Lake Wales lawyer representing the charter association. "According to the law, the funding for every public school student is supposed to be the same."

School Board Attorney Wes Bridges said he has not yet seen the lawsuit. "Until we have been able to review it, we're not in a position to discuss it," he said.

The lawsuit doesn't indicate an exact amount of money that charter school students aren't receiving, and Gibson said he didn't want to speculate on a figure.

The lawsuit does cite three studies as a basis for its claim.

A 2010 study reported that charter schools in Florida received about 25.3 percent less funding than district schools — or a difference of $2,771 per student, the lawsuit states.

The most recent study, published in February by Florida TaxWatch, a nonprofit research group, concluded charter school students receive between 29 percent and 32 percent less funding for their education than district school students, the lawsuit states.

Tuesday's lawsuit is the latest legal wrangling between the School District and the charter association.

In 2010, the charter ­association filed a lawsuit against the School District over its plans to cut certain services, such as food services and transportation.

"After a few months, people calmed down and we were able to resolve a lot of the differences," said Gibson. "We've been trying to resolve all of the differences, but we have been unable to do so."

Gibson insisted the filing of the lawsuit Tuesday isn't a hostile action, but a way for a judge to settle the question of whether charter school students and district school students are receiving equal funding for their education.

"And then we can go on about the business of what we should be doing, which is educating kids rather than fussing about the money," he said.

The lawsuit lists the following charter schools as plaintiffs: Achievement Academy, Berkley Accelerated Middle School, Berkley Charter School, Compass Middle School, Discovery Academy of Lake Alfred, Lakeland Montessori Schoolhouse, Lake Wales Charter Schools, McKeel Academy of Technology, Montessori Middle School, McKeel Elementary Academy, South McKeel Academy, Our Children's Academy, and Ridgeview Global Studies Academy.

[ Jason Geary can be reached at jason.geary@theledger.com or 863-802-7536. Ledger reporter Merissa Green contributed to this article. ]

http://www.theledger.com/article/20120403/NEWS/120409781/1410?p=2&tc=pg