DeSantis Champions Charter School Expansion: Unpacking the New Law's Impact on Public Campuses

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While in Sarasota this week, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis unveiled a new rebate initiative for Progressive auto insurance policyholders. Following the announcement, he addressed questions from the press, focusing on the recent amendments to the Schools of Hope legislation.

This law, originally established to aid charter school operators in supporting underperforming schools, was expanded over the summer. The revised legislation now allows these operators to utilize unused spaces on any public school campus with declining student numbers.

DeSantis criticized property tax strategies as mere “political games.” He elaborated, “Allowing operators access to existing, underutilized infrastructure is not only economically sensible but also incentivizes new participants to engage.”

His remarks came in response to the concerns of parents from Sarasota and Manatee counties. They had recently been informed that Miami-based Mater Academy intended to share facilities at five local public schools.

“These charter school folks, they’re not entitled to any student. They have to convince parents that you should send them to the charter school,” DeSantis said.

Sarasota School Board Member Tom Edwards is against allowing the charter operator to co-locate on schools in his district.

“I personally think it’s a grift of taxpayer dollars to offer free rent, free food, the electric bill, transportation, all those overhead costs,” Edwards said.

Sarasota parents who are against the move have been sharing a flyer on social media that outlines concerns about taxpayer funded resources like school buses, cafeterias, and classrooms being stretched too thin.

Mater Academy is managed by for-profit education group Academica.

“I am a proponent of charter schools, not the ones for profit,” Edwards said.

The school board member also has ideas on ways the district can push back against the charter operator’s request.

One way is to move district staff and administrators to schools with unused space. Another is to add programming involving dual languages or AI to fill those vacant areas. A third option could be to ask the state to greatly reduce the official number of available seats.

“I think it’s a home rule issue,” Edwards said. “I don’t think Tallahassee, which has been legislating a one size fits all, is the best way to handle an A rated school district like Sarasota.”

Gov. DeSantis maintains the six authorized charter operators under the Schools of Hope expansion will have a positive impact.

“I understand why they’re saying that. I don’t think ultimately the critique is valid and I think it’s going to make a real difference,” DeSantis said.