Indian River parents, teachers and board push for changes to 'Schools of Hope' co‑location rules

Public speakers at the Indian River County School Board meeting on Oct. 30 urged the board and local legislators to roll back recent changes to Florida law that allow private "Schools of Hope" to seek co‑location inside public school buildings. The board discussed the statutory timeline and said it would coordinate advocacy to seek fixes at the state level.

May Asencio, a parent, told the board the recent changes "allow schools of hope to be able to request co location within a school that has decreased enrollment or are failing," and warned the law could permit operators to use district facilities at no charge while the district continues to provide services such as cafeteria, nursing and transportation. "They will be getting charter funds, school of hope funds, and our tax dollars while having minimal operational expenses," Asencio said.

Dr. Margie Flanagan, chair of Education Champions, said the expansion was added late in the legislative process and described limited grounds and a short response window for districts that receive a building notice. "Districts have a mere 20 days…