May 2024 — To support quality leadership development in Florida, the FCSA created the School Leaders Fellowship (SLF). A critical milestone was reached this month when the program graduated its third cohort in its 4th year — bringing the total of Fellowship graduates to 40 — doubling the initial goal of 20 grads in five years.
Funded by an FLDOE CSP grant, the program partners with key veteran principals and charter school operations experts to deliver research-based curriculum, best practices, and state standards content to engage, empower, and cultivate the next generation of exceptional charter school leaders. The Federal Charter Schools Program Grant (CSP) is the nation’s only source of dedicated federal funding to support the creation, expansion, and replication of public charter schools. At its fiscal year (FY) 2023 funding level of $440 million, the CSP amounts to less than 1% of federal spending on K-12 education but has a significant impact on the communities that charter schools serve. According to the FLDOE website, “In Florida, the grant is used to drive system-wide improvements to one of the most significant charter school landscapes of any state.”
The School Leaders Fellows enter the program with a variety of leadership experiences. They are teamed up — regardless of seniority or experience — to share expertise, bridge generational and leadership gaps, learn from one another, and make connections that will continue beyond the program. “The School Leaders Fellowship has helped me build a strong professional network that can support me in my leadership journey. I learned that leadership is an evolving skill that requires commitment and continuous improvement,” Belkys Rubio, School Leaders Fellowship Cohort 3 graduate.
The SLF is a particularly valuable resource for independent charter schools that often lack the bandwidth to develop quality leadership initiatives or succession plans.
The Next Cohort: Class of 2025 / Cohort 4 candidates are educators working at a charter school who are interested in becoming principals. Click here to meet Cohort 3 School Leaders Fellowship graduates, and learn more about the program.
Program Overview:
- Fellows will meet in person at the Florida Charter School Conference in November 2024 and five times virtually over six months (October 2024 – March 2025).
- Sessions will provide an overview of the Florida charter school movement and will cover the Leadership Standards and topics essential to charter school leaders, including Charter School Law, Parent and Community Engagement, District Relations, Charter School Operations, and School Finances.
- The Fellowship cohort will be selected through an application process that includes a written recommendation from a professional colleague, a short introductory video, and an essay. The application period will open Aug-Sept 2024. Click here to sign up to receive Cohort 4/Class of 2025 application information.