Florida Association of Independent Public Schools

Journalist Roland Martin and the74million.org (non-profit news site covering education in America) in Philadelphia during their nationwide tour hosting anational conversation about African Americans and School Choice : “At the current (national rate) of academic performance, it will take African Americans 287 years to catch up,” said Steve Perry, head of schools and founder of Capital Preparatory Schools in New York City and Bridgeport, Connecticut.

Is School Choice the Black Choice: A Lack of Student Performance Data and the Need for More Black-Run Charters Focus of Philadelphia Town Hall Philadelphia Philadelphia has a data problem, and the district’s regression from transparently reporting on student achievement by race and ethnicity is not only a cause for concern but also an intentional move to hide poor performance among black students, panelists said during a discussion on sc...

The Coalition for Public Independent Charter Schools has a response to Presidential Candidate Senator Bernie Sanders recently unveiled "Thurgood Marshall Plan For Public Education & Educators" that attacks Public School Choice. It's unwarranted and politicizes a mainstream educational policy for the purpose of gaining various interest groups' support. All candidates for the Presidency should focus on quality and access to public education in all its forms: magnet, charter, career academies and traditional district schools.

An open letter to Bernie Sanders and Amy Wilkins Dear Bernie, I love you but you messed up. Someone on your staff thought that it was a good idea for you to make a strong, deprecating and incoherent statement

In 1998, a groundbreaking report was published detailing the history of race and education in America at the time. So often in public education we hear about the unequal opportunity inherent in the American education system. This opportunity gap existed since the origin of American Public Education, way before the school reform efforts of charter schools. This history of opportunity gaps was the reason and purpose of independent non-profit charter schools.

Unequal Opportunity: Race and Education Brookings Review article by Linda Darling-Hammond (Spring 1998)

Much needed relief for Florida Charters schools balancing School Safety on par with neighborhood public schools. We support the $68 Million increase in Safe Schools allocations to place a School Safety Officer in every school.

Proud to be founding Board Member of the National Coalition of Public Independent Charter Schools. Our Executive Director Steve Zimmerman's op ed in NY times is so on point and addresses their recent front page article on November 10th "Blue Wave May Be Charter Schools’ Black Cloud”" --- "The great majority of the educators we work with are progressive, and their independently managed schools mirror that progressivism in their pedagogy and community interactions...There is a very good progressive case to be made for charter schools, but the movement must first rediscover its democratic, educator-empowered roots and take a more humble approach to changing the world."

Opinion | The Future of Charter Schools The director of a coalition of public independent charter schools laments the role of money in the charter school movement.

Christopher Norwood, the founder of the nonprofit Florida Association of Independent Public Schools, said he was relieved to hear that smaller schools that don’t get resources from large for-profit management companies could get some help.

“The issue with school security for small independent charter schools has been devastating in the aftermath of the safety act that was passed,” Norwood said, explaining that schools with small enrollments, and therefore less funding, pay as much as $1,500 a week for security to comply with new state law. “These smaller schools are suffering around the state.”

If property tax increase passes will charter schools get more money? Carvalho answers. After Miami-Dade County charter schools posted a critical flier about the property tax referendum, Superintendent Alberto Carvalho announced he will propose sharing with charters — if the measure passes.

Congratulations to two of our Founding Members, Miami Community Charter School and Aspira Charter Schools both in Miami Dade County. These two schools have made an amazing turnaround throughout a tough year of change. FAIPS has fought alongside of you to achieve success for your students, equitable funding, successful court battles and still the fight continues!

Miami-Dade is an A-rated school district. Will voters decide to pay teachers more? The Miami-Dade County school district may turn to the November ballot to ask voters to pay more in property taxes to increase teachers' salaries. School grades were also announced, and Miami-Dade outperformed the state.

Congratulations to FAIPS member Minneola Charter School (Lake County) winners of the 2018 Family and Community Involvement Award. The award recognizes exemplary school practices that focus on increasing family involvement, welcoming families into the local school system, providing effective communication, supporting student success, and promoting collaboration with the community.

Commissioner Stewart Honors Nine Schools with Family and Community Involvem Commissioner Stewart Honors Nine Schools with Family and Community Involvement Award

Attending the National Charter Schools Conference in Austin, Texas? End Day 1 of NCSC18 with CPICS! The Coalition of Public Independent Charter Schools invites you for refreshments and networking as we discuss our goals for resetting the national conversation around public chartered schools. Come out to meet and greet school leaders from independent charter schools around the country, help celebrate the inauguration of this new organization and learn about our upcoming Virtual Conference on September 20. This is a great opportunity to make connections and share and learn from each other.

CPICS AUSTIN MEET & GREET Attending the National Charter Schools Conference in Austin, Texas? End Day 1 of NCSC18 with CPICS! The Coalition of Public Independent Charter Schools invites you for refreshments and networking as we discuss our goals for resetting the national conversation around public chartered schools. Come ou...