HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/HB 609 Florida Institute for Charter School Innovation
SPONSOR(S): Secondary Education & Career Development Subcommittee, Borrero and others
TIED BILLS: None IDEN./SIM. BILLS: SB 622
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Secondary Education & Career Development 11 Y, 0 N, As CS Sleap Sanchez
Subcommittee
2) Education & Employment Committee 17 Y, 0 N Sleap Hassell
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Charter schools are public schools created through an agreement or “charter,” with a sponsor. In Florida,
several types of entities may authorize or “sponsor” charter schools, including school districts, Florida College
System institutions, and state universities.
To improve charter school authorizing practices in Florida, the bill creates the Florida Institute for Charter
School Innovation at Miami Dade College (MDC). The bill requires the MDC Board of Trustees to establish
policies for the supervision, administration, and governance of the institute.
The bill establishes the following duties for the institute:
Create a state resource of best practices for charter school applications and application review.
Provide training, technical assistance, and support to charter school sponsors on the review of charter
applications and renewals.
Conduct applied research on policy and practices related to charter schools.
Conduct or compile research on the status of educational choice, charter authorizing, and charter
school performance in Florida and other topics related to charter schools.
Collaborate with the Department of Education in developing the sponsor evaluation framework.
Disseminate information regarding research-based charter school teaching practices to educators in
Florida.
Host research workshops and conferences which allow charter school sponsors, operators, students,
and parents to engage in topics related to charter schools.
The bill has an indeterminate fiscal impact. See Fiscal Comments.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2022.
This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
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FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Present Situation
Charter Schools
All charter schools in Florida are tuition-free public schools within the state’s public education system. 1
Charter schools are created through an agreement, or "charter," between a charter governing board
and a sponsor. The charter provides the school flexibility relative to regulations created for traditional
public schools in return for a commitment to higher standards of accountability. 2 One of the guiding
principles of charter schools is to “meet high standards of student achievement while providing parents
flexibility to choose among diverse educational opportunities within the state’s public school system.” 3
During the 2020-2021 school year, 341,926 students were enrolled in 687 charter schools in Florida.4
In Florida, several types of entities may authorize or “sponsor” charter schools:
School districts, Florida College System (FCS) institutions, and state universities may sponsor
charter schools.5
State universities may sponsor charter lab schools. 6
School districts, FCS institutions, or a consortium of school districts or FCS institutions may
sponsor a charter technical career center.7
To address the needs of educational capacity, workforce qualifications, and career education
opportunities that may extend beyond a school district’s boundaries, in 2021, the Legislature authorized
Florida’s state universities and FCS institutions to solicit applications and sponsor charter schools upon
approval by the Department of Education (DOE).8 A state university sponsored charter school may
serve students from multiple school districts to meet regional education or workforce demands. 9 A FCS
institution sponsored charter school may exist in any county within its service area 10 to meet workforce
demands and the school may offer postsecondary programs leading to industry certifications for the
school’s students.11
Currently, almost all of Florida’s charter schools are sponsored by school districts. 12
Charter School Sponsor Duties
1 Section 1002.33(1), F.S. Florida’s first charter school law was enacted in 1996. Chapter 96-186, L.O.F., initially codified at s.
228.056, F.S., re-designated in 2002 as s. 1002.33, F.S.
2 Florida Department of Education, Fact Sheet Office of Independent Education & Parental Choice, Florida’s Charter Schools (Sept.
2021), available at https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/7778/urlt/Charter-Sept-2021.pdf. [hereinafter Charter School Fact
Sheet].
3 Section 1002.33(2)(a)1., F.S.
4 Charter School Fact Sheet, supra note 2.
5 Section 1002.33(5)(a)1.-3., F.S.; In 2021, the Legislature authorized Florida’s state universities and FCS institutions to solicit
applications and sponsor charter schools upon approval by the DOE. A state university or FCS institution may, at its discretion, deny
an application for a charter school. S. 1002.33(5)(a)3.c., F.S.
6 Sections 1002.32(2) and 1002.33(5)(a)2., F.S.
7 Section 1002.34(3)(a)-(b), F.S.
8 Section 4, ch. 2021-35, L.O.F. (2021) A state university or FCS institution may, at its discretion, deny an application for a charter
school. S. 1002.33(5)(a)3.c., F.S. The Board of Trustees of a sponsoring state university or FCS institution is the local educational
agency for all charter schools it sponsors for purposes of receiving federal funds and accepting full responsibility for all local
educational agency requirements and responsibilities. S. 1002.33(5)(b)6. F.S.
9 Section 1002.33(5)(a)3.a., F.S.
10 Section 1000.21(3)(a)-(bb), F.S.
11 Section 1002.33(5)(a)3.b., F.S.
12 See, e.g., Florida Department of Education, Directory of Charter Schools, https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/charter-
schools/charter-school-directories/ (last visited Feb. 16, 2022).
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A sponsor’s responsibilities include:
approving or denying charter school applications;
overseeing each sponsored charter school’s progress toward the goals established in the
charter;
monitoring the revenues and expenditures of the charter school;
ensuring that the charter school participates in the state's education accountability system; and
intervening when a sponsored charter school demonstrates deficient student performance or
financial instability.13
A sponsor must provide various administrative services to sponsored charter schools, such as contract
management, student enrollment and achievement data reporting, exceptional student education
program administration, eligibility determination and reporting for National School Lunch Program,
assessment test administration, processing of teacher certification data and student information
services.14
Sponsor Accountability
To ensure accountability for Florida’s charter school sponsors, in 2021, the Florida Legislature directed
the DOE to develop a sponsor evaluation framework in collaboration with charter school sponsors and
operators.15 The framework must, at a minimum, address the following: 16
The sponsor’s strategic vision for charter school authorization and the sponsor’s progress
toward that vision.
Alignment of the sponsor’s policies and practices to best practices for charter school
authorization.
Academic and financial performance of all operating charter schools overseen by the sponsor.
The status of charter schools authorized by the sponsor, including approved, operating, and
closed schools.
The DOE must compile the results of the evaluation framework and include the results in the required
annual charter school sponsor report.
The DOE worked with charter school sponsors to assemble and collect information for the authorizer
evaluation framework17 and the department intends to continue to gather stakeholder feedback to
further enhance the framework.18
Support for Charter School Sponsors
13 Section 1002.33(5)(b), F.S.
14 Section 1002.33(20)(a)1., F.S.
15 Section 4, ch. 2021-35, L.O.F.
16 Section 1002.33(5)(c), F.S.
17 Section 1002.33(5)(c)2., F.S.; see also Florida Department of Education, 2020 Authorizer Report-Addendum C Authorizer
Evaluation Framework (Jan. 15, 2022), at 14-111, available at https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/9905/urlt/20-
AuthorizerReport.pdf.
18 Florida Department of Education, Agency Analysis of 2022 Senate Bill 622, pg. 2 (Nov. 9, 2021).
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In 2015, the Legislature appropriated $250,000 to Florida State University19 to establish the Institute for
Charter School Research.20 The institute’s mission was to conduct research on policy and practice
related to charter schools, with a focus on Florida, and to provide technical assistance and support to
charter school applicants and sponsors. Some of the material the institute developed included online
professional development modules on topics related to the charter application process and research
related to the charter school application and authorization process. 21
The DOE supports charter school sponsors by providing resources and technical assistance
information to sponsors.22 Such resources include model forms for the evaluation of charter school
applications 23 and information on Florida’s Principles and Standards for Quality Charter School
Authorizing developed in collaboration with the National Association of Charter School Authorizers
(NACSA).24 In 2016, the DOE was awarded a grant from the federal Charter School Program (CSP)
initiative and used a portion of the award to aid charter school authorizing in Florida by conducting
trainings for sponsors in partnership with the NACSA on Florida’s Principles and Standards for Quality
Charter School Authorizing and providing a fellowship program for select Florida sponsors to visit and
observe best practices in other states.25 In 2020, the DOE was awarded another CSP grant and is
presently using a portion of the award to provide additional targeted training and support to sponsors, to
continue the fellowship program, and to host a Florida charter school sponsors summit. 26
Effect of Proposed Changes
To improve charter school authorizing practices in Florida, the bill creates the Florida Institute for
Charter School Innovation at Miami Dade College (MDC). The bill requires the MDC Board of Trustees
to establish policies for the supervision, administration, and governance of the institute.
The bill establishes the following duties for the institute:
Create a state resource of best practices for charter school applications and application review.
Provide training, technical assistance, and support to charter school sponsors on the review of
charter applications and renewals.
Conduct applied research on policy and practices related to charter schools.
Conduct or compile research on the status of educational choice, charter authorizing, and
charter school performance in Florida and other topics related to charter schools.
Collaborate with the DOE in developing the sponsor evaluation framework.
Disseminate information regarding research-based charter school teaching practices to
educators in Florida.
Host research workshops and conferences which allow charter school sponsors, operators,
students, and parents to engage in topics related to charter schools.
19 Appropriations 2015A, Education Appropriations, Conference Offer June 9, 2015 – 4:45 PM, at 19, available at
https://www.flsenate.gov/usercontent/session/2015A/Appropriations/Senate/Offers/AED/Offer_06092015_1645.pdf. The 2015
appropriation for the Institute for Charter School Research was funded as recurring general revenue, however, the institute h as not
been funded since the initial appropriation.
20 Florida State University, Learning Systems Institute, Institute for Charter School Research, https://lsi.fsu.edu/projects/current-
projects/institute-for-charter-school-research/ (last visited Feb. 16, 2022).
21 Id.
22 See Florida Department of Education, Charter School Authorizers, Links for Authorizers, https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-
choice/charter-schools/authorizers/ (last visited Feb. 16, 2022).
23 Rule 6A-6.0786, F.A.C.; see also Florida Department of Education, Charter Schools, Form IEPC-M2 Standard Model Charter
School Application Evaluation Instrument, https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/charter-schools/charter-school-reference/ (last
visited Feb. 16, 2022).; In addition to the application evaluation instrument, the DOE also publishes standard forms for charter scho ol
applications, Form IEPC-M1 which a person or entity submitting a charter school application must use, a standard charter contra ct, a
charter renewal contract, and forms relevant to high-performing charter schools and virtual charter schools.
24 Florida Department of Education, Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, Florida Principles & Standards for Quality
Charter School Authorizing (2018), available at https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/9905/urlt/PrinciplesStandards.pdf.
25 Florida Department of Education, Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice, 2019 Authorizer Report (Nov. 1, 2020), pg.
4, available at https://www.fldoe.org/core/fileparse.php/9905/urlt/19-AuthorizerReport.pdf.
26 Id.
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The bill authorizes the institute to apply for and receive federal, state, or local agency grants for the
purpose of fulfilling its duties established in law.
The bill requires the DOE to collaborate with the institute in the development of the sponsor evaluation
framework.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1. Amends s. 1002.33, F.S.; requiring the Department of Education to collaborate with the
Florida Institute for Charter School Innovation in developing a sponsor evaluation
framework for charter schools.
Section 2. Creates s. 1004.88, F.S.; establishing the institute at Miami Dade College; providing the
purpose of the institute; specifying the duties of the institute; authorizing the institute to
apply for and receive certain grants; requiring the District Board of Trustees of Miami
Dade College to establish policies regarding the institute.
Section 3. Provides an effective date of July 1, 2022.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
See Fiscal Comments.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
The bill creates the Florida Institute for Charter School Innovation at Miami Dade College (MDC) and
establishes duties for the institute. Absent an appropriation in the 2022-2023 General Appropriations
Act, the cost for MDC to create and implement the institute are indeterminate.
III. COMMENTS
A. CONSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:
1. Applicability of Municipality/County Mandates Provision:
None.
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2. Other:
None.
B. RULE-MAKING AUTHORITY:
None.
C. DRAFTING ISSUES OR OTHER COMMENTS:
None.
IV. AMENDMENTS/COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE CHANGES
On January 27, 2022, the Secondary Education & Career Development Subcommittee adopted one
amendment and reported the bill favorably as a committee substitute. The amendment removed the
appropriation for the Florida Institute for Charter School Innovation.
The analysis is drafted to the committee substitute passed by the Secondary Education & Career
Development Subcommittee.
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Statutes affected: H 609 Filed: 1002.33
H 609 c1: 1002.33