2024 Session: Bill would let municipalities apply to convert public schools to charters

‘I think this puts our public schools on notice to get their act together,’ one GOP lawmaker said.

Tallahassee Democrat | By Ana Goñi-Lessan | January 25, 2024

Parents and municipalities could apply to convert a public school into a charter school, not just school districts, if a bill by a Pensacola House member becomes law.

The bill, by Republican state Rep. Alex Andrade, cleared the House Choice & Innovation Subcommittee Thursday morning along party lines. Ten Republicans voted yes, and there were five no votes from Democrats, who argued the bill would defund public schools.

“Conversion Charter Schools” (HB 109/SB 246) would remove the requirement that a conversion charter school application must have at least 50 percent approval from the teachers employed at the school. Only the approval of the majority of parents would be needed to convert the school.

Under current law, groups of parents, teachers and even school districts can apply to convert a public school into a charter school, but not municipalities.

“(The bill) just gives cities an opportunity to participate in that process,” Andrade said to the USA TODAY Florida-Network

Rep. Fabián Basabe, R-Miami Dade, said it’s a misconception that this bill is a threat to school districts.

“I think this puts our public schools on notice to get their act together,” Basabe said. “There is a tremendous lack of accountability. They are not underfunded. The money doesn’t go where it’s supposed to go.”

Andrade, the bill’s sponsor, called the Democrats’ argument “ridiculous.”

“Public schools in Florida have never been funded as high as they are today,” he said.

Empty school buildings could become affordable housing

The bill would also allow an unused public school facility to be turned into affordable housing if a charter school does not use the building within six months.

The bill also states if a school district has declining enrollment of more than 1% for two consecutive years, vacant buildings must be offered to charter schools. And if the charter schools don’t need the property after six months, it must be offered as affordable housing.

Over half of Florida’s charter schools are run by for-profit companies, according to a 2023 report by the Network for Public Education. Florida ties for second with Ohio at 52% as the state with the largest number of for-profit charters. Michigan comes in first, with 70%.

Rep. Angie Nixon, D-Jacksonville, said the bill made her upset.

“We need to stop blaming the schools and calling them failing government schools,” Nixon said during committee debate. “We need to start blaming ourselves for pushing these horrible policies that are detrimental to our children.”

Last year’s universal voucher bill removed the income limit for school choice in Florida. Now any student in Florida can receive between $7,430 and $8,120 of taxpayer or Florida Tax Credit funds to go to a private school.

Some school districts are losing students and the money that comes with them as a result. Last year, Florida projected its voucher expansion to cost $3 billion.

Gov. Ron DeSantis, who suspended his run to become the Republican nominee for president last Sunday, said Florida has close to 1.5 million students enrolled full-time in choice programs, including vouchers and charter schools.

Florida is currently ranked first in overall education, but 14th in pre-K-to-12th grade schools by U.S. News & World Report.

Ana Goñi-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network – Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.