The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) will celebrate National Charter Schools Week from May 12-18, 2024 to honor the 8,000 public charter schools, 251,000 dedicated teachers, and hundreds of lawmakers who serve and advocate for nearly 4 million students each day. In partnership with the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools and the public charter school community nationwide, this week-long celebration encourages everyone to raise their voice for high-quality public education options for all children.
In Florida, charter schools have been a vital part of the state’s K-12 system of public education since 1996. Enrollment in charter schools for the 23-24 school year is more than 397,000, 14% of the public school population.
“As we celebrate National Charter Schools Week in Florida, it’s an opportunity to acknowledge our unwavering commitment to providing quality education to all students. By promoting the growth of charter schools, we are paving the way for a brighter future where every student, especially those in underserved communities, has the freedom to attain a world-class education,” said Manny Diaz, Jr., Florida Commissioner of Education.
“Charter schools provide families in our state with quality educational options that meet the needs and talents of various learners. Listening to parents, offering programs that support all learners, and raising student achievement has resulted in the continued growth and success of charter schools,” said Lynn Norman-Teck, executive director, FCSA. “National Charter Schools Week is a meaningful opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of students, teachers, parents, alumni, stakeholders, and legislators who make charter schools’ success possible.”
National Charter Schools Week kicks off on May 12, 2024 — Mother’s Day. The FCSA will highlight #charterschoolmoms on social media — giving them a platform to share their charter school story (graphics below). Throughout the week, stakeholders, advocates, and event charter school alumni who are now charter school teachers will also be highlighted. Click here to listen to our conversation with Christian Graham, Durval Charter School at Baymeadows Algebra/Geometry teacher, football coach, and alumnus.
Thank you to the many advocates who raised their voice to celebrate Charter Schools Week:
Public charter schools are an important part of the public education community. These unique public schools serve nearly four million learners–nearly 70% students of color and 59% eligible for free and reduced-price lunch. CREDO’s 2023 National Charter School Study found that Black students in charter schools gained an additional 35 days of learning in reading and 29 days of learning in math, while Hispanic students attending charter schools saw an additional 30 days of growth in reading and 19 more days in math. Low-income Hispanic students gained 30 additional days of learning in math and 36 additional days of learning in reading, while low-income Black students gained 36 additional days of learning in math and 37 additional days of learning in reading per year compared to their district school peers.
Charter schools are the only part of public education that is steadily growing. Over the last four school years (2019-20 to 2022-23), charter schools gained more than 300,000 new students, an increase of 9%. Meanwhile, district public schools lost 1.5 million students at the beginning of the pandemic and enrollment has not rebounded over the past three years, creating a net loss of 3.5%. Where there is space, families want seats in charter schools.
The FCSA is a statewide non-profit, member-driven association that advocates for, supports, defends, and collaborates with public charter schools across the state. Charter schools in Florida run the gamut of choice educational programs – from urban to rural campuses, programs specializing in exceptional students or drop-off prevention to unique classical curriculum, and college-prep programs in high-need areas. Yet all our member schools have a common thread – a steadfast commitment to raising the bar on public education and providing a quality education option to the children and communities they serve.