Charter Schools in Florida

1. Charter Schools in Florida Trends and challenges

2. Agenda • Scope of Florida’s charter sector • History • Challenges, transportation and otherwise • Looking ahead

3. Florida Charter Schools at a Glance • 203,000 students* • 578 schools • 46 districts • Enrollment has doubled in five years • About 7 percent of public school population

4. Enrollment Trends

5. Diversity

6. Diversity

7. Policy and Funding • Charter schools are public schools • Only nonprofits can hold a charter with district • Florida Education Finance Program • Capital outlay dollars • Federal funds

8. Transportation • Charter schools are entitled to their proportionate share of transportation funds for eligible students. • The charter school and the school district are required to cooperate in making arrangements so that transportation is not a barrier to equal access for all students residing within a reasonable distance of the charter school. • Transportation of charter students must be consistent with the district school board requirements of all public K-12 students.

9. Standard Contract • “Should the School choose to provide 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.”

10. Transported Charter Students • 43,878 in school buses • 95 in school cars or small vehicles • 7,507 in public transit • 346 in private cars • 51,826 total transported (25% of enrollment)

11. Challenges • What’s in the law • Communication • Poor relations between charters and districts

12. Who I am Adam Emerson Charter Schools Director Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice Office: (850) 245-9631 Adam.Emerson@fldoe.org