Florida Independent reporter Marcos Restrepo has a story about today’s charter school pep rally in Tallahassee. The event promises to have education leaders in attendance, but two Broad Superintendent Academy grads don’t count. Florida education commissioner Gerard Robinson has eliminated all doubt that he will be an honest broker in policy. This show isn’t meant to sway public school advocates. Its intended to create an image of strength and benevolence. And apparently to bash local school boards:
In a message calling for parents to participate in School Choice Day, the Florida Coalition of Public School Options writes that “last year, Florida families worked hard to pass legislation to expand choice in the state including increased access to charter schools and virtual education, including allowing for the first time the creation of virtual charter schools.”
The Coalition adds: “While it was a big win for Florida families, the legislation has been in effect vetoed by local School Boards across the state who issued nearly across the board denials to virtual charters and the majority of brick and mortar charter school applications.”
This is demonstrably false, but this group who purports to represent families knows they won’t have to face a follow-up question. They also know that the Florida legislature has been usurping local school board control and no longer have final say in charter school matters. Apparently the Florida Coalition of Public School Options doesn’t care about taxpayer money either as it is local school boards who are custodians of how their property taxes are spent. The Coalition must believe that it should be going freely to the charter schools. This easily dispatched spin demonstrates they seeks to serve charter schools first.
