Florida lawmakers pave path for more charter, private schools
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Sweeping legislation that awaits Gov. Ron DeSantis' signature could accelerate growth in the charter and private school sectors at the expense of traditional schools, public education advocates fear.
Why it matters: Florida's K-12 public schools have been in steep decline in recent years, in part because of the state's expanded voucher program.
Driving the news: Included in a pair of bills passed in the waning days of the legislative session is a provision to allow municipalities to convert public schools into "job-engine charter schools."
- Another would allow for the conversion of a public school to a charter through a vote solely by the parents of enrolled students.
Between the lines: The former is a new conversion mechanism that allows a local municipality to apply for a conversion if the public school earns below an A-rating for five consecutive years.
- The latter, which requires just 25% support from parents, changes the previous state statute that mandated a vote by teachers as well.
Meanwhile, a separate provision requires that surtax revenues generated from "any interlocal agreement" and allocated to the school district be shared with eligible charter schools.
- Charter schools already receive a portion of school district funds, including 25% of the revenue districts receive from local property taxes, thanks to a 2019 law.
Yes, but: The final bill removed a provision that would have allowed the State Board of Education to deem school district property "surplus," giving charter schools first dibs on acquiring the property.
The big picture: The changes, if signed into law by DeSantis, are the latest flashpoint in a multi-year effort from lawmakers to overhaul public education, from what teachers can and can't talk about in the classroom to the curriculum that's mandated.
- Moreover, the changes call into question what role taxpayers and community members should play in school-related decision-making.
What they're saying: One of the biggest concerns is that the provision "takes away community voices and fails to recognize that public schools are a community asset," Damaris Allen, executive director of Families for Strong Public Schools, told Axios.
- Public schools, for example, are used as hurricane shelters, whereas charters aren't required to be.
- "This is a pathway to ease privatization [of education], which means our highest-needs students will have a harder time accessing it."
The other side: Backers of the bill, including its sponsor, Republican Sen. Don Gaetz, argued "nothing in the bill" favors charter schools but that the changes support parental rights.
- He also said the changes give local municipalities hoping to attract job producers "a tool that would be valuable in their toolbox," Florida Politics reported.
What we're watching: The final impacts of this year's session on K-12 public schools are still unknown because lawmakers have yet to agree on a budget to fund traditional public schools.
- In Miami-Dade, officials are bracing for a potential shortfall of about $50 million.