The Orange County School Board approved the Wild Oaks Preparatory Academy charter application on Jan. 13 after staff presented a panel review and a prior work session in November 2025.

District staff said the application, submitted Oct. 21, 2025, met statutory requirements under Florida law and had been evaluated using the Florida Department of Education’s model charter application evaluation instrument. The staff review panel included administrators with expertise in exceptional student education, curriculum development and student services; the district recommended approval.

During the discussion a board member asked whether the board has discretion to deny an application that meets statutory criteria. General counsel advised the board that while it may vote no, denials are frequently overturned on appeal if the application meets the statutory standards; the counsel described prior experience at the Charter School Appeals Commission.

After brief questions from members about planning and community need, the board voted to approve the application. Staff said approval will initiate sponsorship discussions and ongoing contract negotiations, with standard monitoring and accountability provisions required by statute.

The application approval is procedural under the charter-sponsor framework; subsequent contract negotiations and oversight will govern operations, capacity and compliance with state requirements.