Fernando Zulueta, president of Academica, gets a drink at the bar in Cain at The Cove, Friday, September 16, 2011, an exclusive beach club in the Bahamas' Atlantis resort. It was at The Cove that Academica held a leadership retreat for principals of several charter schools in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. STAFF PHOTO

Keisha Williams, language arts teacher at Gibson Charter School, talks to her third graders about self control, Tuesday, November 8, 2011. Fifteen years after they were first introduced in Florida, charter schools are doing everything their advocates wanted and everything their critics feared. Promoted as an avenue for smaller class sizes and greater parent choice, charter schools have become a permanent part of the education landscape. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Fareed Khan, left, talks to one of his 284 students, Tuesday, November 8, 2011, at Gibson Charter School. Fifteen years after they were first introduced in Florida, charter schools are doing everything their advocates wanted and everything their critics feared. Promoted as an avenue for smaller class sizes and greater parent choice, charter schools have become a permanent part of the education landscape. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF

Fernando Zulueta, president of Academica, talks to reporters while visiting Gibson Charter School Tuesday, November 8, 2011. Promoted as an avenue for smaller class sizes and greater parent choice, charter schools have become a permanent part of the education landscape. MARICE COHN BAND / MIAMI HERALD STAFF