Page 40 - August 2015 Life In Naples Magazine

EDUCASTTIUODNENTD-CEECNTIESRIEOD NS Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship Program
for low-income students, 42 percent
Iby Erika Donalds of Florida’s three million school-aged
n today’s world, we enjoy having choices in almost all aspects of our lives. We also know children attend a public, magnet, charter,
that when businesses compete for the opportunity to serve customers, we benefit through private, virtual or home option outside
lower prices, higher quality products, and better overall service. Why should education be of the traditional public school to which
any different? they are zoned.
Last month, the Collier County School Board unanimously approved an application for
Collier Charter Academy, a new K-8 public charter school. Met with little opposition, this Options are necessary to sufficiently
decision will empower families by providing additional educational options for students. prepare the next generation of leaders for
Collier Charter Academy will join five other public charters currently serving 1,400 students Southwest Florida and beyond. While
in our community. the traditional public and private schools
Compared to many Florida districts, Collier trails in offering non-traditional public school in our area have historically served most
choices. This could be explained, in part, by an unfounded concern that offering more options families well, there is still room for
would lead to the demise of traditional public education. While it can be easy to oppose the improvement. In Collier County, only
unfamiliar, this perception is wrong to embrace, given how much we welcome competition in two of our traditional public high schools
every other area of our lives. Could you imagine our county commissioners forbidding Whole had at least 70 percent of their 10th grade
Foods from opening in Naples, out of concern that it would force Publix out of business? students test on grade level in English
Thankfully, we are seeing a positive shift in the way people view choices in public education, Language Arts. In Mathematics, just one
both locally and statewide. According to Step Up for Students, the nonprofit that administers traditional public high school hit the 70%
mark for 10th grade students proficient in
Algebra I, a requirement for graduation.

We must do more for these young
people. One way to better serve these
students is to provide quality educational
options that cater to their individual needs
and learning styles.

Among the most vulnerable students
we serve are those with special needs.
Thankfully, this year’s tripled expansion of

40 Life in Naples | August • September • October 2015