Introduction to Schools of Hope
Florida lawmakers have passed a measure that could help expand charter schools known as “schools of hope,” as Republicans continue trying to boost school choice and Democrats warn about harm to traditional public schools. The schools of hope proposal appeared to die before the scheduled May 2 end of this year’s legislative session, but it resurfaced as part of a bill linked to a new state budget.
What are Schools of Hope?
Charter schools are public schools often run by private operators. Lawmakers in 2017 created the schools of hope program to serve children in areas with “persistently low-performing” traditional public schools. The bill passed Monday night, in part, would change criteria for determining whether traditional public schools are persistently-low performing, which could increase the number that would receive the designation — and, as a result, open the door for more schools of hope.
Criteria for Persistently Low-Performing Schools
The designation would begin to apply to traditional public schools that are in the bottom 10% of schools statewide for student performance on third-grade standardized English-language arts or fourth-grade math exams in at least two of the previous three years. Also, the bill would give schools of hope the right to use vacant school facilities or “co-locate” with other schools if space is available.
Debate Over the Bill
During a debate Monday night, House bill sponsor Jenna Persons-Mulicka, a Fort Myers Republican who chairs the PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee, repeatedly emphasized that charter schools are public schools. “We’re seeing these specialized charter schools coming in and transforming communities, changing children’s lives, changing the metrics,” she said. “They’re working.”
But some Democrats blasted the bill, saying it would harm traditional public schools. For example, Rep. Anna Eskamani, D-Orlando, said lawmakers were changing the definition of persistently low-performing public schools “to capture more schools for the sake of privatization.” “Why don’t we fund traditional public schools instead of creating these schemes that pull funding away from traditional public schools?” Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton, said.
Voting Results and Next Steps
The Republican-controlled House voted 80-24 to pass the bill (SB 2510), after the Senate approved it in a 25-9 vote. It now will go to Gov. Ron DeSantis. While lawmakers were scheduled to end the legislative session May 2, they had to extend it for more than six weeks to reach agreement on a budget and related bills.
Growth of Charter Schools
More broadly, charter schools, which are not bound by the same regulations as traditional public schools, have grown dramatically over the years. For example, 382,367 students were enrolled in charter schools during the 2022-2023 school year, up from 229,428 students during the 2013-2014 year, according to data posted on the Florida Department of Education website. The state had 726 charter schools in 46 districts in 2022-2023.
Conclusion
The expansion of schools of hope charter schools in Florida has been a contentious issue, with Republicans pushing for more school choice and Democrats warning about the potential harm to traditional public schools. As the bill heads to Gov. Ron DeSantis for approval, it remains to be seen how this will impact the state’s education system.
FAQs
Q: What are schools of hope?
A: Schools of hope are charter schools created to serve children in areas with persistently low-performing traditional public schools.
Q: How will the new bill affect traditional public schools?
A: The bill could lead to more traditional public schools being designated as persistently low-performing, potentially opening the door for more schools of hope and diverting funding away from traditional public schools.
Q: How many charter schools are there in Florida?
A: There were 726 charter schools in 46 districts in Florida during the 2022-2023 school year.
Q: How many students are enrolled in charter schools in Florida?
A: 382,367 students were enrolled in charter schools during the 2022-2023 school year.
Originally Published: June 17, 2025 at 12:03 PM EDT
