Florida

NCAI Region: Southeast

Total Population: 18,801,310

Native American Population: 162,562

Percentage of population: 0.9%

Number of Tribes: 2

Number of Native American Charter Schools: 2

Number of Native American Charter Students: 280

Number of BIE Tribally Controlled Schools: 2

Total Number of Native American Schools: 4

State Public Education Department: Florida Department of Education

State Average Per Pupil Funding: State Average Per Pupil Funding

Charter Support Organizations: 1) Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools2) Florida Charter School Alliance

Year Charter Law Enacted: 1996

2020 Model Law Ranking: 7

Estimated Number of Charter Schools: 654

Estimated Number of Charter Students: 312,367

Florida law provides a per-pupil charter facilities funding program for eligible charter schools on a formula basis. It specifies that a school is eligible if it has been in operation at least two years, is part of an expanded feeder pattern chain, or is accredited. For 2019-20, the legislature appropriated $158.2 million for this fund.
Beginning in fiscal year 2019-2020, charter school capital outlay funding shall consist of state funds when such funds are appropriated in the General Appropriations act and district discretionary mill levies if the amount of state funds appropriated for charter school capital outlay in any fiscal year is less than the average charter school capital outlay funds per unweighted full-time equivalent student for the 2018-19 fiscal year, multiplied by the estimated number of charter school students for the applicable fiscal year, and adjusted by changes in the Consumer Price Index issued by the United States Department of Labor from the previous fiscal year. In other words, should state appropriations be insufficient to fund charter school capital outlay funding at 2018-19 levels, the local school district will be required to make up the difference by contributing local district tax revenues.
Florida law requires school districts to share tax revenues generated from school district-voted discretionary millages with charter schools based on each charter school’s proportionate share of the district’s total unweighted full-time equivalent student enrollment. It requires charter schools to use the funds in the same manner as required by non-charter schools. It requires the referendum to contain an explanation of the distribution methodology consistent with this change. It provides that these changes apply to operating millage levies authorized by a vote of the electors on or after July 1, 2019. Legislation passed in 2020 now requires the referendum to include a statement that the revenues collected will be shared with charter schools based on their proportionate share of the total school district enrollment.
Florida law allows conversion charter schools to remain in their previous district facilities that comply with the State Requirements for Educational Facilities provided that the school district and the charter school have entered into a mutual management plan for the reasonable maintenance of such facilities.
In addition, if a district school board facility or property is available because it is surplus, marked for disposal, or otherwise unused, it is provided for a charter school’s use on the same basis as it is made available to other public schools in the district.
Each school district shall annually provide to the state department of education as part of its 5-year work plan the number of existing vacant classrooms in each school that the district does not intend to use or does not project will be needed for educational purposes for the following school year. The department may recommend that a district make such space available to an appropriate charter school.
Florida law allows the Florida Industrial Development Financing Act to authorize any county or municipality to issue tax-exempt industrial development bonds to finance the cost of eligible projects, including facilities owned and operated by charter schools.