National Charter Schools Week, May 7-13, will commence the annual celebration of charter schools and our community of educators, parents, students, leaders, and supporters.
More than 382,000 students attend a public charter school in Florida — that’s 13% of the total public school populations. The Florida Charter School Alliance is celebrating the positive impact that charter schools have made in just 27 years since their inception in our state and how high quality charter schools are making a positive impact on students, families, and the communities they serve.
Thank you, Governor DeSantis for recognizing and continually supporting the Florida charter school movement — its teachers, students, and families. Click here to see the 2023 Charter School Week proclamation.
We also want to thank Senator Marco Rubio for supporting Florida’s families. The Senator has been a lifelong leader on behalf of charter schools and students seeking access to high quality public schools. Senator Rubio was named a 2023 Champion for Charter Schools by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools.
The FCSA is highlighting the contributions that charter schools have made to communities from the panhandle to the Keys and will also be shining a spotlight on the incredible charter school teachers/alumni, parents, students, and leaders who are the backbone of our movement.
Ideas to help you celebrate National Charter Schools Week
- Sunday, May 7: Thank A Teacher: Begin the week with gratitude and use #ThankATeacher on social media to share how teachers make a positive impact on our lives.
Use the “I am” graphics to show your support: The social media graphics created by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools can be used by all your stakeholders throughout the week (see graphics at the bottom of this page)- Share the news with your school community – Charter school teachers, staff, students, and families are the most passionate and vocal advocates for the work our schools do. Make them aware of, and get them involved in, celebrating National Charter Schools Week 2023:
- I am a charter school…post on social media. Have everyone on campus fill out this I AM A CHARTER SCHOOL poster and post photo on social media. Tag #CharterLove and #FLCharters
- Record a 1-minute video message and post it on social media. Tell us why you love your charter schools, or highlight what’s special about your charter school. Sample videos: Here is a message that Ms. Lissandra Gonzalez, Teacher & Class of 2018 Alumnus at City of Hialeah Educational Academy created last year. Here is a message recorded by Ms. Laydelis Ritchie, Mater Academy Charter High Alumnus and teacher.
Tag #CharterLove and #FLCharters
- Florida Facts: Share our Florida Charter School Fact Sheet with your stakeholders, faculty, and partners. Incorporate facts about your own school — achievement data, the unique features, or demographic details about the students and community you serve — in your message.
- Share information about your Charter Schools Week activities so we can add it to our social media sites. Tell us about it here.
Social Media Language
- Use the social media language (see below) developed by the National Alliance for Public Charter Schools or make up your own!
- Join me in celebrating National #CharterSchoolsWeek 2023! We’re highlighting our outstanding teachers who are the backbone of education and the charter school movement
- Recognizing #CharterSchoolsWeek and the 7,700 schools and 206,000 dedicated teachers who are making it possible for America’s kids to get a great education!
- Recognizing #CharterSchoolsWeek and the 361,000 families in Florida who chose to attend a charter school this year.
- I’m proud to be part of the charter school community! Celebrating #CharterSchoolsWeek this week and every week
Spread the Word/Spread the Facts
Incorporate these talking points into your communications about National Charter Schools Week:
- Charter schools are always public, always free, and always open to all students.
- Charter schools are an important part of the American education landscape serving 3.7 million students—two-thirds of whom are from low-income, Black or Latino communities.
- 206,000 dedicated teachers working in 7,700 schools and campuses across the country.
- In Florida, more than 361,700 students currently attend a public charter school. That’s 13% of the total public school population.
- Charter schools are student-centered and can serve the unique needs of each of their communities in ways that traditional public schools cannot.
- In exchange for local autonomy regarding students’ education and wrap-around services, charter schools must meet or exceed the goals laid out in their charter such as student proficiency and community service.
- Families choose public charter schools in part because they are often run by community leaders and former teachers who want the autonomy to make decisions to best meet the unique needs of their students and their families.
- Public charter schools are an important part of the public education community. These unique public schools serve 3.7 million learners – nearly 70% students of color – and the teaching staff reflects this diversity.
- According to the National Center for Education Statistics, nearly one in three charter school teachers and school leaders are educators of color.
- This exceptional group of educators can do what many thought impossible: educate students from all backgrounds and support them to achieve academic success.
- In Florida, an estimated 63% of public charter school enrollment is made up of minority students.students of color.
- Since the pandemic began, public charter school enrollment has increased while traditional public school enrollment has decreased.
- The pandemic enrollment shift led to nearly 240,000 new charter school students and a loss of 1.5 million district students, according to the National Alliance’s latest enrollment report.
- American parents across the political spectrum are broadly supportive of charters: 73% of parents with school-aged children expressed their approval of charter schools in a recent poll and 93% agree that one size does not fit all in education, according to a recent survey of parents by The Harris Poll.
On May 9, the National Alliance will release the 2023 Charter Schools Program Impact Report with the latest data and stories of the program’s effectiveness.
In conjunction with Teacher Appreciation Week, this year’s National Charter Schools Week celebration will focus on the contribution of charter school teachers. The National Alliance for Public Charter Schools will honor seven exceptional teachers — including one from Florida — during their annual 
Changemaker awards. These Changemakers will be recognized for using their ideas, talents, and platforms to advance education opportunity for all. Watch the 2023 Changemaker awards ceremony and panel discussion on why they chose to become educator, how we can better support them, and their experience at a charter school — LIVE from Capitol Hill on May 10 at 10 a.m. ET.
If you need assistance writing a press release, posting information, or want us to highlight your campus, teachers, or students during National Charter Schools Week, please contact Lynn@flcharteralliance.org.
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