Julie Delegal: Duval case shows why we can’t afford not to challenge charter schools

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“Our hands are tied.” That’s what Duval County School Board members say about allowing charter schools to open in Jacksonville. State law mandates that, unless a charter school’s application indicates financial mismanagement, school boards can’t say “no” to opening a new one.  Board members say the district can’t afford the legal fees needed to fight the law, no matter how unconstitutional it appears.

But can we afford not to challenge the system that is draining already scarce dollars from the public schools?

Charters don’t add significant, measurable value to the educational landscape in Florida. After nearly 15 years of “choice” in Florida, research that accounts for demographic variables shows the state’s public schools outperform charter schools.

The Duval superintendent stated that the district is currently losing $50 million to privatized alternatives. That figure will increase by $15 million to $20 million next year.

Meanwhile, yet another national, for-profit charter school is slated to open in a Jacksonville neighborhood in a relatively affluent area. The new K-6 Renaissance School, which contracts with the management company Charter Schools USA, will open on the same street where the district plans to open a traditional public elementary within the next five years.

Permitting a charter school to operate in a neighborhood that is slated to have a new public school makes no financial sense to the district. It’s a duplication of services that violates the efficiency clause in Florida’s Constitution, siphons money away from district operations, and does nothing to improve the milieu of students who need the most help. The location of the new charter school belies the argument that “choice” is designed to serve children who are “trapped in failing public schools.”  Charter schools exist to make money, and they do it at the expense of the vast majority of students in Florida, who attend traditional public schools

The board can be compared to the Subway sandwich franchisor that has already granted a franchise for a given location.  Along comes another prospective franchisee asking to open a second Subway across the street. The franchisor would obviously say no.

But because of state law, each and every Duval school board member voted “yes” instead.

When laws are wrong, and hurting the public school mission, we should stand up and vote “no.” We should challenge the laws that not only violate the Florida Constitution, but also drain dollars from the purpose for which they were intended — safe, uniform, efficient, and high-quality taxpayer-owned schools.

Julie Delegal, a University of Florida graduate, has written for Folio Weekly, Jacksonville’s alternative weekly, and writes for the family business, Delegal Law Offices. She lives in Jacksonville. Column courtesy of Context Florida.