The Miami Herald has an ongoing series of stories looking at charter schools in Florida. Among the issues it examines: The lack of check and balances for companies running charter schools; the lack of access to charter schools for special education students; and demographic imbalances. State Impact Florida/NPR collaborated on some of the stories. Kathleen McGrory and Scott Hiassen, Miami Herald; John O’Connor and Sarah Gonzalez, State Impact Florida

South Florida charter schools admit few special needs children

Underrepresented at South Florida charter schools: Children with the most intense support needs.

I-TEAM EXCLUSIVE ON CHARTER SCHOOLS
Charter schools enrolling low number of poor students
Demographic imbalances between charter schools and traditional public schools have led experts to ask if charter schools are open to all students.
I-TEAM EXCLUSIVE ON CHARTER SCHOOLS
Academica: Florida’s richest charter school management firm
Academica has become Florida’s largest and richest charter-school management company, running more than 60 schools just in Miami-Dade and Broward counties.
ACADEMICA’S INFLUENCES
Academica cultivates links to lawmakers
Academica has powerful friends in Tallahassee, including Rep. Erik Fresen — the brother of the CEO’s wife.
Charter school Q&A