Florida is looking to grow the charter school enrollment here, so I guess that is one way to do it. Since the school will get $6,300 for each student they enroll they can afford it.
Unfortunately that money will no longer be available to the traditional public schools.
Video included at the link.
Charter school: Enroll here, get a free Nintendo DSi
The Manatee School of Arts & Sciences is offering a free Nintendo DSi to families who sign their children up this week. The deadline coincides with when the state will start surveying schools, deciding funding based on how many students are enrolled. Each additional full-time student earns a school about $6,300, enough to buy about 42 Nintendo DSis.
..."Manatee County School Board member Julie Aranibar told 10 News off-camera that her biggest concern is that incentives like this could attract families to schools for the wrong reasons.
During the 2011-2012 school year, Manatee School of Arts & Sciences earned a "C" grade from the state based on test scores. The prior school year, the school was given a "D."
The principal admits that more enrollment is their life blood. I imagine public schools feel the same way.
Repeated calls to the school were answered with an email from Principal Miriam Jolly. "As with any school, enrollment is our lifeblood," part of the email read. "Since we already had the Nintendos in our possession, we simply decided to use them as an appropriate marketing tool in order to attract prospects."
Here is more about Florida's goal to double the charter school enrollment. There seems to be little thought about the harm this will do to public schools.
State seeks to double enrollment in charter schools
Florida education leaders want to double the number of children enrolled in charter schools in the next six years, while also expanding other school-choice options for students.
The State Board adopted a new strategic plan Tuesday that envisions about 17 percent of one-time public school students attending either charters — public schools run by private groups — or using taxpayer-funded vouchers to attend private schools by the 2017-18 school year.
This year, about 9 percent of students are in charter schools or using Tax Credit or McKay scholarships.
I agree with this quote from Kathleen Oropeza, the founder of Fund Education Now.
"Instead of setting arbitrary goals that have nothing to do with need or proven results," the state board "should make it their mission to improve public education for the 90% of all students who attend traditional Florida public schools," said Kathleen Oropeza, an Orlando mother and founder of the group Fund Education Now, which has sued the state over what it calls inadequate school funding
Recently in our area the local school board only approved one out of eight applications for charters. That should be the end of it, but those who appeal to the state board of education will probably be approved by its charter-friendly appointees.
I am reminded of the Believe Charter school that offered $100 for every student enrolled. Something is so wrong with using what I call bribery to enroll students.
Flier promises "$100 for each student recruited, provided they enroll and “remain for at least one term with us!”
Evoking the old “Wanted” posters of the Wild West, the flier asks for help to “recruit students who you feel would benefit from the exceptional opportunity to attend Believe Schools in all grades.” It promises $100 for each student recruited, provided they enroll and “remain for at least one term with us!” (The same picture also turned up Tuesday night on Education Notes Online.)
Jacqui Lipson, a spokeswoman for the schools, declined to comment but did not deny that the sign was up.