The bill CS/CS/HB 1115 amends Florida Statutes to enhance the funding and oversight of charter schools, particularly in relation to the distribution of surtax revenues. It mandates that school districts share certain surtax revenues with eligible charter schools based on enrollment and requires charter school sponsors to use a standard monitoring tool for oversight. Additionally, the bill introduces a new definition for "sponsoring entity" and shifts responsibilities for performance-based agreements and financial reporting from school districts to these entities. It also specifies that charter schools must use allocated surtax revenues in accordance with existing laws, with unencumbered funds reverting to the sponsor if a charter is not renewed or terminated.

Moreover, the bill revises eligibility criteria for enrollment in certificate career education programs, allowing students who have earned the required credits but have not passed certain assessments to enroll. It deletes previous provisions regarding the award of a certificate of completion for these students. The legislation also establishes "schools of hope" to support students from low-performing schools, with performance-based agreements managed by sponsoring entities rather than school districts. Financial accountability measures are included, requiring these schools to provide quarterly financial statements and comply with annual audits. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1115 Filed: 1002.33, 1011.62
H 1115 c1: 1002.33
H 1115 c2: 1002.33
H 1115 e1: 1002.33, 1002.394, 1003.433, 1007.263