Travesty alert, Florida about to make it easier to open charter schools.

Um I guess those 250 that closed were all figments of our imaginations. Sheesh are we the sunshine state or the moron state, wait don’t answer this. 

Introduced by the latest worst Florida Legislator ever, Manny Diaz, he wants to make it easier to open charter schools in Florida, some lawmakers want the state – not school districts – to get the first crack at reviewing charter applications.

http://www.redefinedonline.org/2014/01/florida-lawmakers-look-streamline-charter-application-process/#sthash.nVCPdFep.dpuf

He goes on to say, “The districts in certain cases have rehashed some of those requirements during the contract process,’’ dragging out negotiations and resulting in additional costs, Diaz told redefinED. “This bill puts that back-and-forth back to where it belongs with the application. We’re trying to give applicants some clarity and guidance. If the application is not statutorily ready, it shouldn’t be submitted.’’

If the state finds the application does comply with the law, a letter goes to the school board, which still is expected to provide a rigorous review. If the board approves the application and grants a standard charter, then both parties can negotiate additional terms “but it will not stop the charter school from going forward and opening,’’ Diaz said.

So just so I got it right, in an effort to save money Diaz wants Charter applications to be reviewed twice once by the state which has a privatization agenda and who have hardly come off as bastions of fairness when it comes to charter schools and districts and then again by the districts. Once again when Diaz talks I find myself asking what I am missing here.

 Do you get the vibe this is Diaz trying to set up a system of intimidation between the state and the districts? What’s going to happen if the state approves a charter but a district want it or need it? If history is any indicator the charter will be forced down the district’s throats. 

He finished by saying, the draft bill isn’t intended to take away authority from the districts, he said, but “it evens the playing field when it comes to the contract.

Should there be a level playing field between for profit companies more concerned with the bottom line than educating children and school districts? What about balancing what districts need and what charters can provide.

At the end of the day starting a Charter School should be harder not easier and even charter school proponents should agree. There are so many bad actors and mercenaries in Florida that the entire industry has a black eye.