Hoping to extend its reach, the Plato Academycharter school in Clearwater applied this year to open another campus in Pasco County.

After reviewing the school's application, Pasco district officials are recommending against the plan.

"It would not meet the criteria for the state of Florida," Nancy Scowcroft, Pasco's charter school office director, said of the application. "That's the first thing we have to determine."

Scowcroft said the district had concerns about the school's budget, curriculum, student assessment plans and other aspects of its education program. She suggested those must be fixed, and perhaps Plato Academy might apply again next year.

Plato Academy officials will have the opportunity to state their case to the School Board next week.