A rewrite of Florida’s charter school laws is ready for a vote on the House floor, but it remains contentious despite changes intended to address some of school districts’ concerns.
The heart of the bill is intended to speed up contract negotiations between school districts and charter schools by requiring the two sides to resolve most of their differences on key issues during the charter application process.
Supporters of the legislation included Charles Gibson, a board attorney for several Florida charter schools.
He told the House Education Committee that charter schools sometimes have their applications approved, but lose the chance to open the next fall if districts challenge provisions of their contracts.
“The contract negotiations period is where the charter school needs the most help,” he said. “We need to streamline this process.”
Under amendments approved by the panel on Thursday, large charter networks that operate in multiple counties would be able to serve as “local education agencies” under federal rules, and members of charter school boards would be able to attend meetings by video conference.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Manny Diaz, R-Hialeah, also made a series of changes intended to address issues raised by school districts.
Charter school networks from out of state could receive “high-performing” designation from the state that would make it easier for them to expand in Florida, but only if they locate in high-needs areas.
If students withdraw from a charter school and return to the public school system, the school district would be entitled to a share of the per-student funding associated with them. If school districts allow charter schools to operate in their under-used buildings, they would be able to charge rent.
Connie Milito, a longtime lobbyist for the Hillsborough County school district, said the changes helped resolve a few of school districts’ concerns. But she opposed the bill because they felt it would take away their flexibility to negotiate terms of their contracts with charter schools.
“We need to find a middle ground where districts have to do the right thing, and there’s some intervention when they do hold up these schools from opening, who have spent a lot on advertising and who are a part of our public school choice,” she said. “We need to fix that. We just don’t believe this is the way.”
Democrats on the panel also proposed requiring charter schools to post bonds with the school district in case they failed to open, a proposal that was supported by school district representatives. The panel rejected the change after Diaz said it might be unworkable, but the issue could resurface as the bill heads to the floor.
The committee approved the measure on a party-line vote. It could face another obstacle in the Senate, which watered down its version of the charter school bill last week.
