Multiple Provisions Affecting Florida’s Public Charter Schools Become Reality as Gov. DeSantis Signs Senate Bill 1028 into Law

Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) Applauds Florida’s Governor and Legislators for their Positive Impact on the State’s Charter Schools

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., (June 14, 2021) – By signing Florida Senate Bill 1028, Gov. Ron DeSantis has turned several legislative proposals regarding the state’s public charter schools into reality.  The multi-faceted education bill includes more than a dozen changes or additions to laws that relate to Florida’s charter schools.

Among its more significant provisions, Senate Bill 1028 authorizes or requires the following:

  • Authorizes state universities and Florida College System (FCS) institutions to solicit applications and sponsor charter schools, upon approval by the Florida Department of Education (DOE).
  • Requires the Department of Education to develop a sponsor evaluation framework with specific components, with results of the evaluation included in the annual charter school report.
  • Specifies a sponsor’s administrative fee for an exceptional student education center.
  • Removes the February 1 deadline for the submission of charter school applications and specifies that the applicant determines when the charter school will open.
  • Establishes a financial penalty for school districts that fail to implement a court decision and authorizes reasonable attorney fees related to application disputes.
  • Authorizes a charter school to forgo DOE mediation and immediately appeal to an administrative law judge in a dispute regarding a charter contract.
  • Specifies that changes to a charter school’s curriculum consistent with state standards are deemed approved, unless the sponsor and the DOE determine in writing that the curriculum is inconsistent with state standards.
  • Provides an enrollment preference for students who complete a voluntary prekindergarten education program at a provider with which the charter school has a written agreement.
  • Relating to termination of a charter, provides requirements for a sponsor to immediately terminate a charter.
  • Authorizes a sponsor to seek an injunction in circuit court to prohibit continued operation of a charter school for health, safety, or welfare of the students.
  • The bill replaces the annual limit on the establishment of high-performing charter schools to specify that a high-performing charter school may have two applications open at one time.
  • Authorizes a charter school that is an exceptional student education center and receives two consecutive ratings of “maintaining” or higher to replicate its educational program, subject to verification by the Commissioner of Education.
  • Authorizes a virtual charter school to provide part-time instruction.
  • Authorizes charter schools to offer career and professional academies.

“The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools would like to congratulate and thank the Governor and members of the Legislature for implementing many constructive changes to laws that relate to Florida’s public charter schools,” said Robert Haag, President of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools.

About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools

The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state, with a membership of nearly 75 percent of all operating charter schools.  Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven.  FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools.

###