Board hears overview of 2025 legislative changes affecting charter schools, including device rules, background checks and start times

The Lake Wales Charter Schools Board of Trustees received a high-level briefing Sept. 22 on 2025 legislative changes that counsel said will require updates to system policies. Mr. Arnold, presenting the update, said the session produced changes that touch multiple areas: student codes of conduct, wireless-device rules, complaint-resolution procedures, volunteer background checks, campus access and safety requirements, school-start-time mandates, criminal-offense reporting and mandatory removal from classroom duties in certain arrest cases, and several charter-specific provisions on building and enrollment. Key points Mr. Arnold summarized: - Student code of conduct: Each charter’s governing board may adopt its own code but must meet state minimums and align with the charter’s mission; policies such as wireless-device rules and complaint-resolution procedures must be included and posted in handbooks and online. - Wireless devices: Elementary and middle-school students may not use wireless devices during…