The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) has been a leading advocate for the growth and support of charter schools in Florida. Our member school leaders and stakeholders set the priorities we champion, and they trust us to get results. In 2024, we built on previous legislative successes, securing critical funding and addressing long-standing inequities faced by charter schools. Legislators responded by approving a budget that benefited Florida’s students and educators, increasing capital outlay funding for charter schools, updating land-use and zoning laws for new charter and private schools, and creating a new certification for classical education.
Building on this momentum, the FCSA advocacy team, led by Ralph Arza, will continue to focus on legislative priorities shaped by our members. We are once again partnering with Continental Strategy, under the leadership of Ambassador Carlos Trujillo, whose deep connections in Tallahassee provide invaluable guidance and support to our advocacy efforts.
The 2025 FCSA Priorities:
- Student Funding (FEFP): Ensure equitable FEFP funding for all public school students, whether attending charter or district-run public schools.
- Capital Outlay: Secure ongoing support for capital outlay and facilities funding for charter schools.
- Federal Reimbursements: Strengthen accountability measures to ensure timely and fair reimbursements for charter schools.
- Teacher Training & Support: Focus on educator recruitment, compensation, training, and certification to attract and retain top talent.
- Workforce Grants/Funding: Ensure charter schools have equitable and timely access to competitive workforce development grants and opportunities.
- Schools of Hope: Support continued funding and expansion of Schools of Hope programs.
- Facilities: Explore opportunities to repurpose underutilized district educational facilities for charter schools, and clarify municipal/county authority over new and existing charter school facilities.
- Safe Schools: Advocate for continued support and equitable funding for Safe Schools initiatives to safeguard students, teachers, and staff.
- District Support Services: Request clarification/itemization of the district support services paid by the FEFP fee received from charter schools.
- District/Charter Collaboration: Promote successful district-charter collaborations and share best practices to strengthen partnerships and improve outcomes.
Our 2025 policy initiatives are clear and focused. We aim to strengthen Florida’s Charter School Movement by ensuring equitable funding and policies that prioritize student learning and the expansion of quality charter schools. We are committed to removing barriers to student success and advocating for the continued growth and success of charter schools across the state.
FCSA members who want. to learn more about our state legislative efforts, are encouraged to contact Ralph Arza, ls@ralpharza.com.
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We are weeks away from the official start of the 2025 Florida Legislative Session. Both House and Senate lawmakers are tackling key policy issues, including education, public safety, and healthcare, and participating in committee discussions to shape the priorities that will be addressed in the coming months. Several education-related bills have been filed. Below is a short list of bills the FCSA advocacy team is following:
- HB 37, Educator Certifications and Training, Revises provisions relating to teacher & educator preparation programs, educator certification requirements, etc.
- SB 102 filed by Sen. Don Gaetz would establish a workforce credential program specifically for students with disabilities, heads to its first committee hearing. The companion, Rep. Kim Kendall’s HB 127, awaits a hearing date.
- SB 112 – filed by Sen. Gayle Harrell to expand screenings and supports for children with autism, including grant funding for charter schools and summer camps that educate students with autism. (HB 127 companion / Rep. Kim Kendall)
- HB 123 Revises provisions relating to conversion charter schools.
- SB 270 filed by Sen. Danny Burgess would expand eligibility for Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship Program to include students from military families under certain circumstances. This program rewards Florida high school graduates for academic achievement.
- HB343 school start time filed by Representative Chuck Brannan would remove school start-time requirements and give start-time flexibility to public middle and high schools.
- HB 443 Revises provisions relating to charter schools, charter school sponsors, DOE duties, & disposal of school district real property.
- HB 569, Construction & Facilities, revises building requirements for charter schools.
- HB 571 filed by Rep Kim Kendall would require school districts to schedule work-based learning at a time that ensures the greatest number of students can benefit. The bill would also require high schools to host career fairs for students aged 16 and older with employers currently offering paid work experiences.
- HB 573, which could allow people with certain previously disqualifying criminal offenses from at least 20 years ago to obtain educator certification or a job that requires direct contact with students
- SB 742 includes charter schools as eligible recipients of the Development Capitalization Incentive Grant Program.
- SJR 802 and HJR 679 amend the Florida Constitution to impose term limits on school board members and county commissioners.
- SB 822, Providing requirements for specified deadlines for charter schools; authorizing a charter school to assign its charter to another governing board under certain circumstances; requiring school districts to take specified actions before the disposal of real property, etc.
- HB 885, Florida Virtual School, would revise the students the school may serve; delete requirements for student priority, etc.
- HB 875, Educator Preparation
- SPB 7030, Educational Scholarship Programs – Creating an operating categorical fund for implementing the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program; creating the educational enrollment stabilization program to provide supplemental state funds to address changes in full-time equivalent student enrollment; requiring that specified data include a verification that certain full-time equivalent student membership survey data has been cross-checked by the department; renaming the Hope Scholarship Program as the Hope Program, etc.
Contact Lynn@flcharteralliance.org to schedule a call with the FCSA advocacy team to discuss the upcoming legislative session.