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Winter 2008 Edition |
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 In This Issue...
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School Choice Showcase, FPSCC Conference September 30-October 2, 2007
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Judy's Journal
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NACSA IN SAVANNAHThe National Association for Charter School Authorizes (NACSA) held its seventh annual conference in Savannah, Georgia October 22 and 23, 2007. This conference, held at the Hyatt Regency Savannah, was named “Cultivating the Charter Garden” based on the analogy that charter schools are creating the landscape of quality performing schools. Read On… |
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Creating a “Choice” for Excellence: Florida Charter School Conference in OrlandoNever before in the past 10 years has charter school reform been as popular as it is today. There have been many conferences and programs developed to meet the new challenges of charter schools. Even more precedent-making is the strong support being rendered to charter schools and its other stakeholders. The conference in Orlando provided a streamlined process to enable the participants with a vast amount of information to develop leaders and provide the tools needed to build success within their charter school(s). Read On… |
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Announcements for the New Doctoral Minor in Charter School EducationIn January of 2007, I had the pleasure to meet with Dr. Carlo Rodriguez and talk about the future of education. The most important topic we discussed was charter school reform and the need of further education at the doctoral level. Dr. Rodriguez and I, after several conversations until his sudden death, collaborated on the course curriculum for a doctoral minor in charter school education and leadership. We felt that all stakeholders in charter school education would need a curriculum designed to meet their needs in governance, facilities procurement, parental choice, business management, and curriculum and assessments. These stakeholders include (a) principals (b) CFO/business managers (c) school board members (d) authorizers (e) teachers (f) policy makers, and (g) parents. Read On… |
Position Paper on Implementation of SB 1232Career academies, which began over 30 years ago in Philadelphia, have now spread throughout the country. They are one of the most common forms of small learning communities and considered one of the more effective high school reform models. They have seen considerable success in many locations, especially for at risk students (see Manpower Development Research Corporation evaluation of 2002). They have inspired a series of rigorous evaluations that have confirmed their effectiveness, especially for at risk students and for obtaining employment among male students.Read On… |
National Coalition of ESEA Title 1 Parents: 34th Annual
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Parent meeting At Centro CampesinoCentro Campesino in partnership with the Parent Resource center has monthly workshops and choice chats for the parents, all of them done in Spanish. We’ve gotten off to a great start, and we’ve been able to host several chats at the center with great parent participation. Parents are able to bring their children, and while they sit in the chat the children are taken to a play area so the parents can focus but at the same time feel safe. Dinner is usually provided. What better way to bring a group of people together than with a little food. Read On… |
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Greetings from the Southeast Coalition of Essential SchoolsterThis fall the Southeast Coalition of Essential Schools Center (SCESC) has been host to three networking and critical conversation events for our districts and schools. The SCESC was found as a partnership among the school districts of Manatee, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota and Palm Beach Counties as well as Nova Southeastern University’s Fischler School of Education to create a professional network of practitioners involved in secondary school reform through smaller learning communities and career academies. The National Career Academy Coalition (NCAC), SERVE Center and the Small Schools Workshop are partners. |
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All Aboard Family Literacy ProgramThe CPC PRC workshop was held on October 11, 2007 and was done in two parts. Carmen Garrandes, Parent Liaison for Nova Southeastern University, Florida School Choice Resource Center, first went with the different School Choice Options in Florida and distributed pamphlets on Corporate Tax Credit Scholarship, Opportunity Scholarship Program, Home Education, McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program, Virtual Education, and Charter Schools. | |
Third Annual Florida Public School Choice Consortium ConferenceThe Third Annual Florida Public School Choice Consortium (FPSCC) Conference was held at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida, September 30 – October 2, 2007. The mission of the conference, to provide opportunity to network and actively participate in influencing the policies and practices for offering equitable school choice, was accomplished through the breakout and information sessions, the Networking Reception, the panel presentation, critical conversations, and the mentor/mentee roundtables. The “Edubabble” Game was one of the highlights. While it was a game, it had a serious purpose, drafting common language for school choice to take to the upcoming Summit which will be sponsored by the Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice. Read On... |
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A Highly Successful Career Academy ConferenceOn November 3-6 , 2008, the National Career Academy Coalition held their annual conference in St. Louis, Missouri. One of their best attended conferences to date, it was also one of the best programs ever offered. The primary focus was the sharing of promising practices by successful Career Academies across the nation. In addition, this year’s program included a discussion with key industry partners and post secondary representatives in all the major career cluster areas. Read On... |
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FPSCC Central Region Update
The Central Region held a phone conference on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 with 12 districts participating. The discussion focused on hot topics facing districts as they expand or maintain choice in their areas. A few districts saw parental interest in choice slowing, especially as enrollment leveled off or declined within the district. This seemed to be especially significant in the area of AYP choice. I think it is important to acknowledge that when parents are offered an alternative placement and they choose to remain at their zoned school, those parents have made a meaningful choice. Many parents indicate that they are extremely happy with their zoned school and do not wish to place their children on a long bus ride. Read On... |
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