In this episode: A billionaire hedge fund manager and a New York City charter network lobbied to expand a school privatization program in Florida, according to records obtained by Seeking Rents.

Editor’s note: A written version of this story first appeared in the Seeking Rents newsletter: Lobbyists for a billionaire and a charter network pushed Florida lawmakers to expand a school privatization program, records show

Show notes

Senate Bill 2510 — Prekindergarten Through Grade 12 Education

A few examples of key Florida lawmakers who have had personal and financial ties to the charter school industry:

Firms belonging to wife of Rep. Donalds grabbed millions in charter school contracts

New disclosures only deepen mystery of Rep. Donalds’s wife’s charter school companies

A South Florida charter school network now runs a small district 500 miles away. Legislators with close financial ties to charters helped make that happen.

Incoming speaker Corcoran says bill that would benefit his wife’s charter school is part of broader reform

A few stories about the failure of Florida’s first ‘School of Hope’:

Federal grand jury investigates bid-rigging in DeSantis’ education department

Florida officials tried to steer education contract to former lawmaker’s company

Jefferson gets its schools back following bid shenanigans and efforts to keep it with a charter operator

And some of the stories and resources referenced in the pod:

Commentary: Florida doubles down on failed Schools of Hope experiment

This link will download an spreadsheet from Florida Department of Education with 2025 list of public schools that are now classified as “persistently low-performing.”

A billionaire is showering cash on Florida politicians

Lobbyist for a billionaire-run hedge fund wrote a bill allowing longer non-competes, records show

The Secret to Success Academy’s Top-Notch Test Scores

At a Success Academy Charter School, Singling Out Pupils Who Have ‘Got to Go’

At Success Academy School, a Stumble in Math and a Teacher’s Anger on Video

Filing Alleges Bias at Success Academy Network Against Students With Disabilities

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