Introduction to Charter School Expansion
TALLAHASSEE — Florida’s board of education signed off Wednesday on a major expansion of charter schools in the state, clearing the way for the privately run schools to “co-locate” inside traditional public schools.
It’s the latest push by Florida officials to expand school choice in a state that has long been a national model for conservative education policy. The move comes as some public schools are closing their doors as they grapple with declining enrollments, aging facilities and post-pandemic student struggles.
Background on Schools of Hope
The new regulations approved by the state board build on a bill signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis this year to allow operators to open more “schools of hope,” charter schools that are meant to serve students from persistently low-performing schools.
“We have operators that want to come in and give the best education to those who are in schools that haven’t been getting the greatest education,” Republican state Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka said while defending her bill on the House floor earlier this year.
“Let’s give them the opportunity,” she added.
Lawmakers created the schools of hope program in 2017 to encourage more publicly funded, privately run schools to open in areas where traditional public schools had been failing for years, giving students and families in those neighborhoods a way to bail out of a struggling school.
Key Provisions of the New Regulations
This year’s law loosens restrictions on where schools of hope can operate, allowing them to set up operations within the walls of a public school — even a high-performing one — if the campus has underused or vacant facilities.
The board’s new regulations require public school districts to provide the same facilities-related services to the charter schools as they do their own campuses, including custodial work, maintenance, school safety, food service, nursing and student transportation — “without limitation.”
School districts must allow schools of hope to use “all or part of an educational facility at no cost”, including classrooms and administrative offices, the rules read.
“All common indoor and outdoor space at a facility such as cafeterias, gymnasiums, recreation areas, parking lots, storage spaces and auditoriums, without limitation, must be shared proportionately based on total full-time equivalent student enrollment,” the rules continue.
Concerns and Criticisms
Public school advocates urged the board to vote down the proposal at Wednesday’s meeting. One such advocate, India Miller, argued that schools of hope are designed to be “parasitic” to public schools.
“To me, it would be like asking Home Depot to give Lowe’s space in their store and pay all of their infrastructure costs. It just does not make sense to me,” Miller said.
Board members, who are appointed by DeSantis, defended the new rules and dismissed concerns that the charter expansion could pull critical funding away from traditional public schools.
“Schools of hope wouldn’t be necessary if our public school system had done its job along the way,” said board Vice Chair Esther Byrd.
Conclusion
The expansion of charter schools in Florida is a significant development in the state’s education policy. While proponents argue that it will provide more choices for students and families, critics are concerned about the potential impact on traditional public schools. As the state moves forward with this new policy, it will be important to monitor its effects and ensure that all students have access to quality education.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the schools of hope program?
A: The schools of hope program is designed to provide students from persistently low-performing schools with an alternative education option.
Q: How will the new regulations affect public school districts?
A: Public school districts will be required to provide facilities-related services to charter schools, including custodial work, maintenance, and transportation, without limitation.
Q: What are the concerns about the charter school expansion?
A: Critics are concerned that the expansion could pull critical funding away from traditional public schools and that schools of hope are designed to be “parasitic” to public schools.
Q: When was the bill signed into law?
A: The bill was signed into law by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis this year.
Q: What is the role of the state board in the charter school expansion?
A: The state board approved the new regulations, which build on the bill signed into law by Gov. DeSantis.
