Governor Crist signs bill with students watching

North Broward, Fla (Vocus) June 16, 2009

As President Obama continues to focus on the need for higher quality education, Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed a bill into law that reinforces the need to hold public schools accountable for performance. HB 991 was signed at North Broward Academy of Excellence, a Charter Schools USA (CSUSA)-managed school in North Lauderdale, Florida. The new law requires clear action plans to improve failing public schools. These plans include converting a consistently failing school to a district-managed turnaround school, reassigning and monitoring students, closing the school and reopening it as one or more charter schools with a governing board that has a demonstrated record of effectiveness, or contracting with an outside entity to operate the school. Performance will be evaluated on specific criteria set forth in the law and includes Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test (FCAT) grades as well as gains in proficiency.

This is the first of two bills that are designed to improve the standards of public and charter schools. Next week, SB 278, a bill that holds charter schools to a higher standard is expected to come before the Governor for signature. That bill addresses specific issues at charter schools such as nepotism issues, identifying schools in financial crisis and intervening early, and an increased requirement for charter schools to either be FCAT graded or otherwise be required to divulge student achievement information to parents.

CSUSA has supported both bills and according to its president, Jon Hage, raising the bar across the entire education system will be a win-win situation for everyone with students benefiting the most. CSUSA contributed to the charter school bill and was instrumental in getting it to this level.

“High performing charter schools have always adhered to the higher standards that will be introduced in SB 278, which is why we are in such support,” says Hage. “Poor performing schools will be held accountable and if necessary shut down. Charter Schools USA has consistently proven that a well-managed school that adheres to high ethical standards will succeed. Unfortunately when unscrupulous education providers fail, they paint a negative picture across all charter schools. It is our hope that these two bills will eliminate the bad schools that capture the headlines and will enhance the quality of education provided by raising the bar for the schools of excellence.”

Charter Schools USA is one of the largest providers of quality charter school education in the State of Florida. CSUSA’s network of schools averages an “A” across the system with some of the highest gains in the lowest 25 percent of the students.

North Broward Academy of Excellence, where today’s bill was signed into law, is a school that started out with low academic achievement and failing prospects and turned into a thriving center of excellence with a growing population. What originated as a rented storefront with 200 students has grown to a 51,518 square-foot state-of-the-art school that can accommodate over 900 students and is currently at capacity with a significant waiting list. Academic grades have increased as well from an “F” school to just one-point shy of an “A” school last year.

It’s these types of stories that put charter schools on the lips of the President of the United States and academic proponents. Charter schools provide a choice to parents who want an alternative to the traditional public school model. Although state funded, charter schools receive less funding and require a higher level of accountability than public schools. Good quality charter schools introduce a high level of competition to the public school system which raises the bar across the board.

“We see it happen time and time again that students thrive in a charter school environment when they floundered in a traditional public school,” says Hage. “At our Palm Bay Community Charter School, Patriot Campus for example, nearly 30 percent of the new students entered the school below grade level. The stellar achievement gains in the lowest 25 percent of the students in that school give us reason to be confident that the school will attain a “B” this year.”

Crist addressed the parents of North Broward Academy of Excellence students, telling them that their school served as “a wonderful example of what success can be and how it can be achieved.” He discussed the importance of choice in education and thanked those parents in attendance.

“I want to thank you on behalf of the almost 20 million people who live in Florida for what you are doing for education. This is where it starts,” said Crist. “You’re the incubator of change in the State of Florida and it’s working every single day.”

Crist ended the ceremonial signing of the bill by handing out pens to students who gathered around the table and posing for numerous photos.

“It is truly an honor to have Governor Crist choose one of our schools to sign this bill into legislation,” added Hage. “Accountability is one of the character traits we teach the students and it’s something for which we stand firm at all of our schools.”

Media contact:

Colleen Reynolds, APR – Edge Communications of Southwest Florida

(239) 437-0040 or cell (239) 849-6400

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