Florida charter schools (high failure rate)

“I-Team: Lawmakers React To Charter School FCAT Failures.” CBS4 News (FL) 7/6/11

...Of Florida’s 2,280 public elementary and middle schools, only 17 scored an “F” on the FCAT.  Of the state’s 270 Charter elementary and middle schools, 15 flunked.

Charter schools had a failure rate 740% higher than that of public schools...

“Traditionally, they (the charters that failed) were in failing school neighborhoods,” said Representative Erik Fresen, a Miami Republican who sits on several education committees and is a strong supporter of charter schools...

“They started as an “F” because they inherited, essentially, “F” performing students,” Fresen said.

Fresen’s defense, however, does not appear to wash.

CBS4′s analysis of the 15 charter schools that failed show at least nine have administered the test for at least two years.  Some saw their grades plunge from an “A” to an “F.”  At least two had back-to-back “F” grades, including Broward Community Charter Middle School and Lawrence Academy Elementary Charter School in Miami-Dade.

Fresen, whose sister and brother-in-law own a charter school management company, Academica, said he sees no conflict between that and his leadership role in education in the legislature...

At least five companies involved in charter school management contributed the maximum allowable donation to Fresen’s most recent election campaign...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

FCAT Results: Charter Schools Have High Failure Rate.” CBS4 News (FL) 7/5/11 

MIAMI (CBS4) – In his first visit to South Florida as governor, Rick Scott visited Florida International Academy, a charter school operated with public money by a private, for-profit company.  Scott – a big charter school booster – said the school in Opa Locka could serve as a model for the rest of the state.

But in FCAT grades released last week, Florida International Academy’s elementary school scored an “F.”

In Miami-Dade, a greater percentage of charter schools failed than public schools.

Every school that got an “F” in Broward County was a charter school.

Statewide the failure rate of charter schools versus public schools is striking.

A CBS4 News analysis of Department of Education numbers shows fewer than one percent of public elementary and middle schools received an “F” in grades released last week.  In contrast, nearly six percent of charter schools received an “F.”

Charter schools got failing grades at a rate more than seven times that of public schools...