FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Broward County, FL – April 3, 2025 — The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA) is calling on the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) to intervene in response to ongoing challenges faced by charter schools in Broward County. Over the past 29 years, charter schools have played a critical role in the state’s K-12 public education system, with more than 406,800 students currently enrolled in these schools across the state and more than 50,000 in Broward County.
Charter schools have earned strong support from parents and students alike, providing diverse educational options such as performing arts, Classical curriculum, STEM, language programs, college prep, and credit recovery. This expanding array of programs continues to meet the needs of a growing and diverse student population, ensuring that students from all backgrounds receive a quality education.
However, despite their success and contribution to the local education system, charter schools in Broward County are facing significant bureaucratic obstacles that are undermining their ability to operate effectively. The FCSA has documented numerous instances of arbitrary and unnecessary delays imposed by non-elected district staff in the charter school office, which are causing undue disruption to charter schools’ day-to-day operations.
For example, delayed federal grant reimbursement, and inconsistent or unwarranted changes to documentation requirements that have no clear justification. These ongoing issues not only burden charter schools but also hinder their ability to provide high-quality education to their students. The FCSA is calling on the Florida Department of Education to step in as a neutral mediator between the Florida Charter School Alliance and Broward County Public Schools to address these inconsistencies, rectify arbitrary requirements, and ensure that charter schools can continue to serve their communities without undue interference.
Lynn Norman-Teck, Executive Director of the Florida Charter School Alliance, states, “Charter schools are an essential part of Florida’s public education system, and we are committed to ensuring they thrive. However, we cannot do so if we continue to face obstacles that serve no educational purpose and only delay our ability to serve students.”
ABOUT FCSA
The Florida Charter School Alliance (FCSA), advocates for, defends, and collaborates with public charter schools to influence legislative policy and environments. We are a member-driven organization focused on charter schools’ legislative policy and environments in Florida. We advocate for students and charter schools throughout the state, positively impacting over 406,800 students enrolled in one of the state’s 734 charter schools. Our members 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.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Lynn Norman-Teck, lynn@flcharteralliance.org