Charter Schools in Florida

1. Charter Schools in Florida Friday, February 13, 2015 Mid-Year Transportation Directors Meeting Presented by: Adam Emerson, Charter Schools Director, Office of K-12 School Choice

2. Public Charter Schools • Section 1002.33, Florida Statutes • Charter schools are public schools that operate under a performance contract, or “charter,” with a district • Purposes • Improve student learning and academic achievement • Increase learning opportunities for all students, with special emphasis on low-performing students and reading • Encourage the use of innovative learning methods • Require the measurement of learning outcomes

3. Public Charter Schools • Autonomy in exchange for accountability • Exempt from majority of education code • Not exempt from statutes pertaining to • Standards, assessment and school grading • Services to students with disabilities • Civil rights and discrimination • Student health, safety, welfare • Public meetings and records • Teacher evaluations • Class size, except that measured at school-wide average

4. Public Charter Schools • Autonomy in exchange for accountability • District can terminate charter school for: • Failure to participate in state’s education accountability system • Failure to meet the requirements for student performance stated in charter contract • Failure to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management • Violation of law • Other good cause shown

6. Public Charter Schools • Department Responsibilities • Commissioner appoints members to Charter School Appeals Commission • Review financial corrective action plans • Collect data through annual accountability report • Provide mediation services for contract disputes • Administer charter school capital outlay program • Review and rule on Double “F” waiver requests • Develop model forms for charter schools and sponsor • Provide training and technical assistance to charter schools and sponsors • Administer federal charter school program (CSP) grant

7. Public Charter Schools • Charter school law (Section 1002.33, F.S.) • “Charter schools whose students or programs meet the eligibility criteria in law are entitled to their proportionate share of categorical program funds included in the total funds available in the Florida Education Finance Program by the Legislature, including transportation …

8. Public Charter Schools • Charter school law (Section 1002.33, F.S.) • “Transportation of charter school students shall be provided by the charter school consistent with the requirements of subpart I.E. of chapter 1006 and s. 1012.45. • “The governing body of the charter school may provide transportation through an agreement or contract with the district school board, a private provider, or parents.” • “The charter school and the sponsor shall cooperate in making arrangements that ensure that transportation is not a barrier to equal access for all students residing within a reasonable distance of the charter school as determined in its charter.”

9. Public Charter Schools • Standard Charter School Contract • HB7009 (2013) required Department to develop standard contract and submit to Legislature November 1, 2013 • Department worked with Districts and operators to develop initial draft. Submitted November 1, 2013 • At conclusion of 2014 Legislative Session, Department initiated rule development • Four rule workshops conducted in June 2014 • Two additional rule workshops in July 2014 • Rule adopted by SBE in November 2014

10. Public Charter Schools • Standard Charter School Contract • “The School shall provide transportation to the School’s students consistent with the requirements of Part I.e. of Chapter 1006, Florida Statutes, section 1012.45 and section 1002.33(20)(c), Florida Statutes. The School may provide transportation through an agreement or contract with the Sponsor, a private provider, and/or parents.”

11. Public Charter Schools • Standard Charter School Contract • “Reasonable Distance [for purposes of this contract]: The School and Sponsor shall cooperate in making arrangements that ensure that transportation is not a barrier to equal access for all students residing within [INSERT REASONABLE DISTANCE].”

12. Public Charter Schools • Standard Charter School Contract • “The parties may agree for the District to provide transportation to and from the School. If such agreement is reached it shall be the subject of a separate contract. If agreement is reached with the Sponsor the School may utilize, at the School’s expense, the District’s transportation services for extracurricular events, field trips, and other activities on the same basis and terms as other District schools.”

13. Public Charter Schools • Standard Charter School Contract • “The School shall comply with all applicable transportation safety requirements. Should the School choose to implement its own transportation plan rather than contract with the District for transportation services, it shall submit a transportation plan to the District for review and approval. The School shall provide the District the name of the private transportation provider and a copy of the signed contract no later than 10 business days prior to the use of the service.”

14. Public Charter Schools • Standard Charter School Contract • “If the School submits data relevant to FTE funding for transportation that is later determined through the audit procedure to be inaccurate, the School shall be responsible for any reimbursement to the Sponsor and/or State arising as a result of any errors or omissions, misrepresentations or inaccurate projections for which the School is responsible.”

15. Public Charter Schools • Standard Charter School Contract • “Any transportation FTE adjustment, which is attributable to error or substantial non-compliance by the School, the Sponsor shall deduct such assessed amount from the next available payment otherwise due to the School, without penalty of interest. Any deficit incurred by the School shall be the sole fiscal responsibility of the School and the Sponsor shall have no liability for the same.”