Does this mean that only 26% of parents in a Florida public school can get it changed to a charter?

I am still reeling from reading this article. I don't think I am misinterpreting the figures, but it seems unbelievable. This, if true, is worse than that California parent trigger law...at least that requires 51% of parents to approve a public school becoming a charter.

Charter School Classification for Scott Lake Elementary to Go to Vote



So doesn't that sound like 26% could possibly cause the public school to become a charter?

And this is the part that is painful especially. It says that if it becomes a charter they can get better funding.



I guess it's all falling into place now. Deprive the public schools of funds as Rick Scott and his legislator buddies have done, turn the school into a charter which is not as regulated, and more funds will appear.

26 percent?

It's impossible to give a number, as opposed to a percentage needed, because although there are 755 students, we don't know how many households that represents.

I added the aside about number of households needed because, obviously, you can't calculate that.

50% must return it, and of that 50% over a half must approve. So what figure would you use?

It sounds like you are agreeing basically.

You said:

" Your math is incorrect. Any percentage greater than 25% of households.

It's impossible to give a number, as opposed to a percentage needed, because although there are 755 students, we don't know how many households that represents."


I did not give a number of parents. I asked about the half of 50%.

I am questioning the small percentage of parents who are able to bring about such drastic change.

In my mind just over half of 50% of households would mean 26% of households.

answer is any percentage above 25% of total households. Which is not 26%.

You are a retired teacher, correct?

It seems we are agreeing.

Because I cannot imagine that a retired school teacher doesn't know what a fraction is. Or, that percentages are seldom 'whole.' For example, if I told you that your COLA increase for 2012 was 5.7%, would you accept 5.0% on your check?

It cannot have escaped you that 25.0% or greater is not equal to 26%.


I love education threads.

Really? :shrug:

I have no idea what point you are making, but I am tired of the insults toward me as a retired teacher.

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The parents whose children aren't there now but will be in the future don't get a vote.

A minimum of 26% of clients of a privately held institution should be able to vote to "commonize" it. :)

--imm

Just quoting the article.

Just over half of half of the households can change a school from public to charter.

Like taking candy from a baby who can't fight back.

And the worst thing is that so few care.

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And the list appears to be just up to 2010. It says if you want to know why, contact the closed school's district.

154, that's a lot. Now they are allowing around a fourth of a school's parents to decide to convert it. :shrug:

http://www.floridaschoolchoice.org/Information/Charter_Schools/files/closed_charter_schools.pdf

I wonder if the article is wrong, and the reporter misread the rules? Or if that is a new thing, part of the drastic changes recently.

http://www.floridacharterschools.org/public/whatisacharterschool.asp#q3

"How are charter schools formed?

"According to the Florida statutes, charter schools can be formed by creating a new school or by converting an existing public school to a charter school. An individual, teachers, parents, a group of individuals, a municipality, or a legal entity may create a charter school.

The concept behind the Florida charter school movement is that community-based organizations, colleges and universities create charters schools to serve students in those communities, with a focus on meeting the needs of underserved students.

The charter school developers form a not-for-profit corporation to govern the charter school. Next, they submit a charter application to the local school district sponsor. The district school board reviews the application and makes the decision whether to approve or deny it. If the application is denied, the founders can choose to appeal through an appeals panel.

An existing public school can apply to convert to a charter school if it has been in operation for at least two years prior to the application to convert. This includes a public school-within-a-school that is designated as a school by the district school board. In order to convert an existing public school to a charter school, the school must demonstrate the support of at least 50 percent of the teachers employed at the school and 50 percent of the parents whose children are enrolled at the school."

It does say that half the parents must turn in their vote, and that only half of those votes must be for the conversion. Looks like there should at least by a slight majority required IMO.

Someone is confused.

Still confused today. The half of the half mentioned in the newspaper article is not the same as "50 percent of the parents whose children are enrolled at the school."

I will look for more info today, but that half of a half of the households does not seem the same thing.

http://www.lakelandlocal.com/2011/05/time-for-the-stop-charter-school-cheating-act/

"It seems Scott Lake Elementary has joined the chorus of snooty Lakelanders trying to seize taxpayer-constructed public buildings for their “private” schools.

Now, I have long considered the state’s school grading system stupid and more or less rigged–the formula for grading changes every year, according to political need–but Scott Lake has been an “A” school for the last couple of years. Obviously, it’s failing miserably under the collectivist leadership and management of the School District.

Here’s the money euphemism:

Wizda said Thursday that faculty members are driving the change so they can have more instructional choices.

Riiiiiiigggghtttttt. Translation: We want to make our already easy kids easier to teach, make sure the unwashed don’t contaminate them, and then get rewarded for it."