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Broward school board hears brief update on Florida bills affecting charter conversions and 'Schools of Hope'
Summary
Lobbyists told the Broward County School Board workshop that Senate Bill 1105 changes the conversion-charter process and Senate Bill 2510 changes criteria and site rules for Schools of Hope; staff presented no district action at the meeting, only information for future discussion.
Broward County School Board members heard a brief legislative update on two Florida bills that could affect district conversion-charter processes and state-operated "Schools of Hope." Wendy Dodge, a lobbyist with The Southern Group, and Dr. Kim McDougal of GrayRobinson presented the summary at a board workshop.
The presenters said Senate Bill 1105 removes the parental vote from the current conversion-charter process and introduces a "job‑engine" charter school model that a municipality could propose to partner with local industries. "HP 1105 makes changes to conversion charter schools," Wendy Dodge said, adding that the bill "removed the parental vote from that process" and adds the concept of a job‑engine charter school.
Dr. Kim McDougal summarized changes in Senate Bill 2510 to the Schools of Hope program, which places charter operators in persistently low‑performing schools. McDougal said the bill adds a new criterion for a school to be deemed persistently low performing — placement in the bottom 10 percent for student performance in at least two of the previous three years on state screening and progress monitoring measures — and allows a School of Hope to locate outside a district operating zone if the district lacks unused property. "A School of Hope may collocate with another school in a public school facility," McDougal said, and the law as described will allow sponsors such as state colleges or universities.
McDougal also said districts would not receive payments from a School of Hope operating on district property under the new statute, although districts may submit for capital outlay funds for students enrolled in those schools. She noted that a previously discussed $600 per‑student provision did not survive the legislative process and that reporting requirements for Schools of Hope were expanded.
The board did not take action on either bill during the workshop. Superintendent and staff signaled the presentations were informational to help the board consider later options related to school redefinition and charter relations. No formal motion or vote on district policy changes was recorded at the session.
Why it matters: Both bills change how conversion charters and state‑authorized charter operators may open and locate schools, which can affect enrollment patterns and facility use within Broward County Public Schools. Staff told the board the summary was provided so members could factor the statutory changes into upcoming discussions about school redefinition.
Looking ahead: Board members and staff discussed these items only as context for later agenda items; staff did not propose immediate policy changes at the workshop. If the district pursues actions in response to either bill, the board would need to consider formal agenda items and public notice in subsequent meetings.
