Charter Schools
Q1: What is a Charter School?
Q2: What is a municipal charter school?
Q3: What is a municipal charter school application?
Q4: Is the application binding? Can it be amended once filed?
Q5: How are municipal schools funded?
Q6: What type of curriculum is offered?
Q7: Who is involved in the organization and operation of the school?
Q8: Would the Miami-Dade School District play a role?
Q9: Are there any nearby examples of municipal charter schools?
Q10: How are the schools working in those communities?
Q11: What are the Benefits of having a municipal charter high school in Key Biscayne?
Q12: What is a school of choice?
Q1: What is a Charter School?
In short, Charter schools are publicly funded schools that have been freed from some of the rules, regulations, and statutes that apply to other public schools in exchange for some type of accountability for producing certain results, which are set forth in each school's charter.
Florida’s charter school law was passed in 1996, and was expanded in 1999 to incorporate municipal charter schools. Charter schools are among the fastest growing school choice options in Florida. Today, there are over 370 charter schools in operation, with over 100,000 students enrolled. Florida is ranked second in the nation in public charter school student enrollment.
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Q2: What is a municipal charter school?
It is a state funded public school organized and/or sponsored by the municipality in which it is located. In Key Biscayne, it would operate under a performance contract or charter with the Florida Department of Education and/or Miami-Dade County School Board.
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Q3: What is a municipal charter school application?
It is a process by which a municipality informs the School District of the intent of establishing a charter school. It contains information related to educational philosophy, compliance with State Standards for education, Governance and an estimated business plan that includes an estimated budget. Applications are due by August 1st, to initiate operations one year later. An application filed in August 2008 will allow for the school to start operating in the 2009 - 2010 school year, or the year after.
See application form here.
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Q4: Is the application binding? Can it be amended once filed?
Applications are not binding and can be pulled out of the process at any time. Applications can also be amended to provide for additional information or clarifications. Location, Governance or curriculum does not need to be completely defined at time of application.
The Village will have opportunities over the next few months to amend application based on the outcome of the workshops and community engagement.
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Q5: How are municipal schools funded?
Allocation of federal, state and local funds to District Schools are made available to the municipal charter school to fund operations. Municipal charter schools can also accept money from private enterprises, foundations and individuals and used it in the best interests of students and faculty.
Please read here for details on how charter schools get funding.
President elect Barack Obama has made education reform an important component of his campaign plans. He has a proven track record in giving education a top priority. For instance, he doubled the number of charter schools in Illinois and is now pledging to do the same for the entire country, and increasing their funding to meet 21st Century education needs. See a video on his commitment to public education here.
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Q6: What type of curriculum is offered?
A charter school provides freedom for educators and school founders to use curricula or programs to set up the school day in a way that is not done by conventional schools. This freedom allows a school to address the special needs of its children directly.
Our community has engaged the services of Fielding Nair Int'l and EdVisions Schools to assist us in developing a feasibility study and high level planning for the school. See Consulting Project.
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Q7: Who is involved in the organization and operation of the school?
Village Council becomes the Founding Board and may appoint a Governing Board to delegate certain responsibilities of running the school operations. A Parent Advisory Board is also established for the purposes of developing and implementing the school improvement plan.
Operation of the school is either the responsibility of the Principal and schools staff, or an independent Education Service Provider may be retain to operate certain aspects of the school. In the case of our Village, the community engagement will specify the final outcome of the organization.
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Q8: Would the Miami-Dade School District play a role?
The school district would likely provide certain administrative and educational services based on a negotiated fee. These might include processing teacher certifications, handling state or district required student assessments, contract management and student reporting services.
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Q9: Are there any nearby examples of municipal charter schools?
Florida is one of the most active states in implementing municipal schools. Miami Shores, Aventura, Coral Springs, Oakland, Pembroke Pines, Cape Coral and other cities all have established municipal charter schools.
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Q10: How are the schools working in those communities?
Studies show the communities have created small, local schools where family and community play an integral role. School principals have expressed a sense of belonging to the community, and also spoke about sharing facilities, resources and staff with greater community.
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Q11: What are the Benefits of having a municipal charter high school in Key Biscayne?
- The school would reflect the needs and virtues of our community. Education decisions would be made from within the Village by government officials, community leaders and educators, allowing the administration to easily respond to new trends and requirements without the constraints of the School District.
- Students can use their own community as learning resources to help reduce the disconnect many feel between school and the rest of their lives. In addition to high academic standards, the community environment would provide the means for our youth to develop and exercise civic engagement and leadership while effecting concrete changes in their own community.
- Curriculum will rival well regarded private schools. School can easily respond to new trends and education requirements away from the constraints of a rigid and distant school district.
- Our adult and senior residents would have access to life-long learning opportunities, while keeping them engaged and productive. The community school will become a point of unity between generations, instead of division. In fact, senior citizens often are the backbone and core volunteers of school mentoring and tutoring programs.
- New facilities will become an extension of our Community Center, expanding recreational capacity and providing for lifelong learning opportunities. See benefits for additional information.
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Q12: What is a "school of choice"?
The term "school choice" means giving parents the power and opportunity to choose the school their child will attend. You know what is best for your child and should be able to put that knowledge to work to find the perfect fit. For our community it means the Key Biscayne Charter High School will not replace Coral Gables Sr. High as a the feeder school, and any other Magnet or Charter School in Miami-Dade remains an option for Key Biscayne students.
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For additional questions on charter schools see:
