Charter schools are paid for with public tax money but operated by private individuals, organizations or other public entities. They're free from government regulations other than those involving testing, health and safety. ...more

August 1, 2008

Does Hillsborough have a school choice program? The district offers options for parents if they want to enroll their child in a school other than the assigned school. ...more

August 1, 2008

On paper, the USF-Patel Charter School appeared a perfect marriage. ...more

August 1, 2008

About half of Hillsborough County's 191,000 students ride buses to and from school. ...more

August 1, 2008

The struggling University of South Florida Patel Charter School, which received an F grade from the state this month, may become part of the Hillsborough County School District as early as next week. ...more

July 29, 2008

The USF/Patel Intermediate Charter School, which two years ago faced possible cancellation of its contract because of poor student performance, has received its lowest school grade ever, an F. ...more

July 12, 2008

More than 1,600 high school seniors will graduate from Alonso, Leto and Sickles high schools in ceremonies scheduled for late May and early June. ...more

May 7, 2008

Barring changes by the Legislature, the state's class-size amendment is slated to take full effect in August as parental choices change. ...more

February 19, 2008

Florida public schools are supposed to begin adhering to strict caps on individual class sizes in August when the state's class-size amendment takes full effect. ...more

February 19, 2008

TALLAHASSEE — Less than one percent of traditional Florida public schools are in line for financial penalties for failing to meet Florida's class size reduction requirements after State Board of Education rulings Monday. ...more

February 5, 2008