Will Florida Schools of Hope rule resolve district cost concerns?
Tampa Bay Times | Jeffrey S. Solochek | February 2, 2026
The big story: The state’s proposal to fix rules allowing certain charter schools to take up space in under-used district schools yielded several new questions, particularly when it comes to costs.
The initial rule said the charters could take up the space without paying rent, and districts would have to provide services such as transportation for free. The revision paves the path for the charters and districts to negotiate “incremental” fees for services rendered.
After reading the proposed update, school board members questioned what incremental might mean, and speculated on the possible results if the charters refused to negotiate. The law, after all, sets forth that the Schools of Hope charters may use the sites “at no cost.”
A spokesperson for the management firm that works with Schools of Hope operator Mater Academy and two other groups seeking Hope status — Somerset Academy and SLAM — expressed optimism that the situation would work itself out. Academica made clear early in the process that even though Mater filed hundreds of claims for access across the state, it did not intend to pursue the vast majority of those.
Mater also granted districts including Hillsborough and Pasco added time to review the space requests, a move that some officials saw as a willingness to cooperate.
“Consistent with our longstanding commitment to expanding choice and opportunity for students across the state, we approach this process in the same spirit of collaboration that guides our work with the school districts in which we serve,” spokesperson Adri Lima told the Tampa Bay Times via email.
Organizations have begun submitting their comments to the State Board of Education in advance of a Feb. 20 vote on the rule revision. Some individuals also have urged lawmakers to separately take up legislation on Schools of Hope.
They’ve expressed pessimism that lawmakers will act, though, especially given some of the other legislation pending on related matters.
On Tuesday, the Senate Education and Employment Committee is set to consider a bill (SB 824) by Sen. Keith Truenow, R-Tavares, that would require school districts that have lost enrollment over three years to offer any undeveloped property they have owned more than three years to charter schools for their own construction projects.
