Bill would develop FSU charter school institute

Not a big win for FSU, but worth noting.

Bill would develop FSU charter school institute

"Florida State University would develop its own research institute to help those wishing to start new charter schools if a House committee bill becomes law.
A school choice bill proposed by the House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee would strengthen accountability for charter schools and revise charter school funding provisions, but it also would establish the Florida Institute for Charter School Innovation at FSU.
The institute's mission would be to research policy related to charter school accountability, instruction, finance, management and operations. It would connect teachers with job opportunities at charter schools and provide support to charter school applicants and their sponsors.
New charter school creators could get help from the institute in writing their charter applications plus tap into financial and operational knowledge for their schools. The goal is to create better charter school pitches and weed out bad proposals, according to the committee.
Rep. Robert Cortes headed up committee efforts to nail down a final version of the bill, which was presented and then voted favorably out of committee Tuesday.
There are no sure funding details attached to the bill, but it's estimated about $1.5 million will be needed to start the institute, and Cortes said the organization would not need new facilities. It would have a director, appointed by FSU President John Thrasher, and between three and five staff members, a structure based on a Colorado model.
Cortes said FSU was chosen because the university has the size and curriculum capabilities to take on the initiative.
"It's obviously new, it's innovative," he said.
FSU is on board with the bill and is willing to take on the new institute should the bill pass, according to Dennis Schnittker, FSU spokesman.
The bill also received support from the Florida Charter School Alliance and the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
Jim Horne, president and chairman of the Florida Charter School Alliance and a former Florida Education commissioner, said an institute for charter school innovation is "long overdue."
Horne said some school districts receive a flood of charter school applications and the institute would help sift out the ones that aren't ready to move forward.
"We have seen a lot of applications that probably aren't quite fully baked and ready for prime time and I think with some help and effort we can do that," Horne said."