How big change in charter school rules became law in Florida

A new Florida law allowing select charter school operators to set up their programs within the walls of traditional public schools, rent free, is a lesson in power, politics, money — and how the three combine late at night in the state Capitol.

The result got a failing grade from state Rep. Robin Bartleman, a Weston Democrat, former teacher, former assistant principal and mother of a teacher.

“I was crushed,” she said in an interview. “I am crushed.”

It wasn’t just the policy outcome, with which Bartleman vehemently disagrees. It was the way that legislation widely believed to be moribund was suddenly resurrected.

What Bartleman and legislative allies described as sweeping changes to the law governing charter schools, resulting in a major impact on traditional public schools, was pushe