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Charter School Explosion: Are they Fulfilling the Promise?
(Part 3 of 7)
June 23, 2014 | 
Author By Patricia W. Hall
This is the third in a series of seven articles regarding Charter schools and their changing relationship to our community.
Charter schools were created as complements to the public schools, where educators and parents could apply innovative teaching strategies for children not well-served by the traditional publics. They would receive public funds and be freed of many of the district’s regulations, but they would be held accountable for the results. The promise of charter schools was that they would be “effective” (children would learn more) and “efficient” (they could target resources on student learning). Read the rest of this entry »
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Charter School Explosion: Are they Fulfilling the Promise?
(Part 2 of 7)
By Patricia W. Hall
This is the second in a series of seven articles regarding Charter schools and their changing relationship to our community.
The Education Committee of the Hillsborough County League of Women Voters has participated in a statewide study of Florida’s charter schools led by the Alachua County League. Twenty–one local leagues conducted studies representing 27 counties from Dade to Escambia. The League of Women Voters has been a strong proponent of quality public school education throughout our 70-year history in Florida. The League supports the Florida Constitution, which defines a uniform, high-quality public school system as a paramount duty of the state. Read the rest of this entry »
Charter School Explosion: Are they Fulfilling the Promise?
(Part 1 of 7)
By Patricia W. Hall
This is the first in a series of seven articles regarding Charter schools and their changing relationship to our community.
The first charter school in Hillsborough County opened in 1997 with Richardson Montessori Academy. It was one of the first five charter schools opened in Florida after legislation was passed authorizing charter schools in the state. Like all early charters, it had a specific mission and was led by a board of dedicated educators and parents. Its founding principal, Mrs. Tommie Brumfield, has continued educating and teaching her kindergarten and elementary students all these years. Read the rest of this entry »
