Florida board approves charter school expansion to co-locate within public campuses

Florida's Board of Education on Wednesday approved a major expansion of charter schools, clearing the way for privately run schools to co-locate inside traditional public school campuses. The action comes as districts contend with declining enrollments, aging facilities and ongoing post-pandemic student challenges, and as state leaders push a robust school-choice agenda.

The new regulations build on a law signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis this year that allows more "schools of hope" to open in areas previously served by persistently low-performing schools. The program, first created in 2017, is designed to give families an alternative to underperforming public schools by funding privately run options. Under the rules, school districts would be required to provide facilities-related services to charter schools on par with district campuses, including custodial work, maintenance, school safety, food service, nursing and student transportation—without limitation. Charters could use all or part of an educational facility at no cost, including classrooms and administrative offices, and would share common spaces such as cafeterias, gyms, recreation areas, parking lots and auditoriums in proportion to total full-time equivalent student enrollment.

Supporters said the changes open opportunities for operators to deliver better education to students from low-performing schools, with state Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka defending the bill on the House floor by saying, "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. Let’s give them the opportunity."

Historically, the schools of hope program was created to spur more publicly funded, privately run schools within neighborhoods that had long struggled to provide quality instruction. The new legislation loosens restrictions on where these schools can operate, including the possibility of locating in high-performing campuses if the facility has unused capacity.

Public school advocates urged the board to reject the proposal. India Miller, a vocal critic, argued that schools of hope are designed to be "parasitic" on public schools, saying, "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." The board's supporters, including Vice Chair Esther Byrd, countered that the retreat would be unnecessary if the public system had performed better over the years.

Board members, who are appointed by DeSantis, defended the rules as a way to expand options for students and families. They argued that expanding charter access does not strip funds from traditional schools, especially given the new facility-sharing commitments.

The vote reflects Florida's long-running role as a national model for conservative education policy and an aggressive expansion of school choice, even as some districts grapple with closures, aging infrastructure and post-pandemic student challenges. The development comes as operators are eager to tap into underused public spaces, and as lawmakers continue to broaden the definition of a "school of hope" to attract families to privately run options.

Associated Press writer Kimberlee Kruesi contributed to this report from Providence, Rhode Island. Payne is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.