Dead charter school rule revived, now law

A new Florida law allowing select charter school operators to set up their programs within the walls of traditional public schools, rent free, is a lesson in power, politics, money — and how the three combine late at night in the state Capitol.

The result got a failing grade from state Rep. Robin Bartleman, a Weston Democrat, former teacher, former assistant principal, and mother of a teacher.

“I was crushed,” she said in an interview. “I am crushed.”

It wasn’t just the policy outcome, with which Bartleman vehemently disagrees. It was the way that legislation widely believed to be moribund was suddenly resurrected.

What Bartleman and legislative allies described as sweeping changes to the law governing charter schools, resulting in a major impact on traditional public schools, was pushed through late at night on the last day of the annual Florida legislative session.

“It was a last-minute switcheroo. We on the House side (of the Capitol) definitely under the impression it was done, it was over, it wasn’t going anywhere. It had been defeated. It came back as a surprise,” said state Rep. Kelly Skidmore of Palm Beach County, the House Democratic policy chair. “We were like what the hell, where is this coming from at the last minute?”Skidmore, Bartleman and other Democratic senators and representatives, traditionally allied with teachers unions and traditional public schools, argued against both

the way the legislation was advanced, and the policies it contained. “I urge everyone to vote ‘no’ on this. Send it back and let’s work on language and really work on the schools that need help,” Bartleman said during the final House debate, late at night on the last day of the session. “This is a

sin. Please vote ‘no.’ ”

The Republican majority, long supportive of private-sector alternatives to public schools and allied against teachers unions were unmoved.

The bill passed overwhelmingly.

Provisions

There were multiple provisions of the last-minute legislation. Most controversial were the elements that involved schools of hope, a subset of charter schools.

Schools of hope were established by the state in 2017 to provide alternatives to students in areas with

persistently low-performing schools or in opportunity zones, which are economically distressed areas.

The 2025 legislation changed the definition of “persistently low-performing schools,” vastly expanding the

number. It also allows schools of hope outside of opportunity zones in some cases. More money was allocated. State universities or colleges (whose boards are appointed by the governor) can now sponsor a school of hope instead of school boards (whose members are elected by voters in each county https://enewspaper.sun-sentinel.com/shortcode/SUN315/edition/d5b0700e-ffbc-4593-9dfd-3367e1784e45?page=6dc7c78e-fdeb-4f33-b91c-394d72f4aa63&