Several private schools fail to comply with state rules requiring extra information in order to receive payments.
By STEPHEN HEGARTY
Published November 12, 2003
Forty-one private schools in Florida have had their voucher payments cut off because they did not comply with a state requirement to provide additional information about themselves.
More than 300 schoolchildren have been using state vouchers to attend those schools. The state recently notified their parents that they can enroll at another school or work out different arrangements to stay where they are.
"The interest of the Department (of Education) is to make sure the kids are being served," said DOE spokeswoman Frances Marine. "We need the schools to show that they're complying with the law before we send any more payments."
The suspension of payments, and the requirement for new information, is intended to bring greater accountability to the state's voucher programs. News reports and a Senate task force have criticized the DOE for lax oversight.
Education Commissioner Jim Horne sought to restore public confidence when he announced last month that he would require schools to turn in forms showing that they comply with Florida laws.
Ten schools whose payments were suspended have told the state they no longer want to participate in voucher programs. But all the schools can get their payments easily restored. All they need do is turn in the state's compliance form by Nov. 21 and be in compliance by Dec. 15.
For instance, the Hand In Hand Academy in Lutz had its November voucher payment suspended because the form wasn't sent in on time. But Hand In Hand plans to stay in the program.
"We're going to continue," said Wendy Viles, director of the academy, a fervent supporter of vouchers. "Notification came while I was in Maine, and I'm the only person authorized to handle that. I faxed the information over the weekend."
Viles said the handful of children she has participating in the state's McKay Scholarship program will not be affected. She expects to receive state funding for them soon.
Some of the schools that said they no longer want to participate in the voucher programs saw the compliance forms as a hassle or a threat to their independence. Some were barely involved in the programs.
At Jesuit High School in Tampa, only one student was participating in the state's voucher program for low-income kids.
"We just decided since it was so limited, rather than fill out the form, we would go the other way," said Jesuit Principal Joseph Sabin. "The student is still here. That hasn't changed at all." Jesuit will provide financial aid to the student, he said.
Another 11 schools around the state have had payments suspended until they show that they have an "action plan" for getting into compliance.
"I didn't send an action plan, but I already took care of it," said Laura Heatwole, principal at the Camelot School in Largo. Though she has only one child participating in the voucher program, Heatwole thought it worthwhile to fill out the form so the child could stay at the school.
"It's an aggravation, but you have to do it," Heatwole said.
Two other private schools that failed to provide the information still are getting payments. The state was reluctant to cut them off until they notified the parents of the 20 children at the two schools.
Most of the 1,166 private schools that participate in the state's voucher programs turned in their compliance forms on time. Several were out of compliance in one area or another, but their funding was not interrupted if they sent the state a plan saying how they would meet state requirements.
Last month, for instance, more than 100 schools had not shown proof of radon tests. Several have since conducted those tests and sent verification to the state.
The forms were supposed to be notarized, a requirement that Education Commissioner Horne touted last month as bringing a higher level of accountability to vouchers. But the state has now dropped that requirement.
There was pressure from private schools that objected to it. But DOE said the requirement was dropped after legislative staff said the education department lacked the statutory authority to demand notarized forms.
The state has more than 24,000 students participating in three voucher programs this school year. The programs have been plagued recently by criticism and embarrassing revelations.
Horne cut off payments to a St. Petersburg school participating in the McKay Scholarship program when the school faced code violations and relocated to a local library. A scholarship-funding organization cut off funding to a Tampa school amid concerns that the school was co-founded by a college professor alleged to have terrorist ties. And a funding organization in Ocala is being investigated by law enforcement after the foundation collected $168,000 but did not use it to provide scholarships for low-income children, as the law intends.
Several lawmakers have promised to file bills to reform the programs.
