‘Schools of hope’ are also schools of profit | Editorial – Sun Sentinel

A charter school operator bigfooting its way into Broward County classrooms may be able to force the school district to turn over rent-free space. But no one should be rolling out the welcome mat.

Miami-based Mater Academy has put Broward on notice that it plans on moving into 27 Broward school campuses , part of a bigger initiative to set up shop in dozens of public schools statewide.

This is about more than free space. Once a charter is in a public school, the Department of Education requires districts to pick up the tab for charter school expenses, including transportation, gyms, school safety, cafeterias, nursing and more.

Legislation allowing charter schools to take underused public school space reached the governor’s desk through a political sleight of hand, tucked inside Sen