ELECTION ISSUE IN FLORIDA
"SCHOOLS OF HOPE" PROGRAM & THE RISE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS
On the last day of Florida's 2025 legislative session, lawmakers quietly changed a program called "Schools of Hope." These changes will move millions more of your tax dollars away from public schools and into charter schools. Many of these charter schools hire for-profit companies to run them, which means your tax money can become private profits.
What is the "Schools of Hope" Program?
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In 2017, Florida created the "Schools of Hope" program to help students in low-performing schools (Fla. Stat. §1002.333, 2017).
The plan was to bring in good charter school operators who would open schools near failing public schools. This would give struggling students better options.
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Eight years later, Florida has spent over $300 million on this program.
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But it hasn't worked well. Many Hope schools do no better than the regular public schools they were supposed to replace. (Florida Department of Education, 2025; Orlando Sentinel, 2025)
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There are only about a dozen Schools of Hope in Florida. In 2024, eight of them got C or D grades. (Orlando Sentinel, 2025)
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What Changed in September 2025?
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In September 2025, the State Board of Education passed a new rule that completely changed the program. (Fla. Admin. Code R. 6A-1.0998271, 2025)
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Across Florida, charter operators (including Mater Academy and others linked to Academica, IDEA, and Success Academy) sent hundreds of notices to districts immediately after the rule change—demanding access to any building with “empty seats.”
Districts have acknowledged receipt, but many have not yet disclosed the specific campuses for legal and strategic reasons.
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Under the new rule:
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Charter schools can now claim space in ANY school building with empty seats – not just failing schools.
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What counts as "empty seats" isn't clearly explained.
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School districts must give charters free buildings plus free maintenance, free food service, and free transportation.
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Districts have almost no way to say no.
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Your elected school board loses control over school buildings to state officials you didn't elect.​
This is not what voters were promised in 2017.
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What Was Promised vs. What's Happening
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Why Should You Care?
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As of November 15, 2025, charter schools have sent hundreds of notices to school districts saying they want to move into public school buildings. (Walker, 2025; Kumar, 2025) In our area, three Sarasota schools and two Manatee schools have been targeted. [Local districts have confirmed that three Sarasota County schools and two Manatee County schools have already received charter takeover notices. District officials have not yet released the names publicly due to ongoing review and potential legal challenges.]
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If you have kids in public school:
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Your neighborhood school might have to share its building with a charter school.
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Your district will spend money on the charter school instead of your child's school.
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Your school might close -- not because it's failing, but to keep charter schools from taking it over.
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If you pay taxes:
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You already spent $300 million on Schools of Hope with poor results.
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Now districts must give charters free buildings, free maintenance, free food service, and free buses.
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When schools get worse, home values in that neighborhood drop too.
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If you believe voters should control their schools:
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You vote for school board members to run local schools.
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The new rule lets state officials (who you didn't elect) override your school board.
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They can give away school buildings you paid for to private charter companies.
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If you care how your tax money is spent:
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This change never went through normal legislative debate.
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It was hidden in a budget bill on the last day of the session.
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Billionaire Ken Griffin gave almost $30 million to Republican campaigns in 2024 and $50 million to Success Academy charter schools. (Garcia, 2025)
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Lobbyists for Success Academy wrote this bill. (Garcia, 2025)
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Success Academy is now asking for $50 million more in taxpayer money plus $5,000 extra per student each year. (Garcia, 2025)
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Many charter schools hire for-profit companies to run everything. Mater Academy, which wants to move into about 100 Florida schools, uses a for-profit company called Academica. The U.S. Department of Education investigated Academica for conflicts of interest and using public money for private business deals. (StateImpact Florida, 2014) Your tax dollars can become private profits.
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What Happens Next?
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Every school district in Florida could be affected. What happens depends on whether:
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Citizens demand honesty and answers.
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Communities fight to keep their neighborhood schools.
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Legislators listen to voters or to charter lobbyists.
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Courts protect local control.
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Facts matter more than political connections.
If you're concerned about these changes, use your voice.
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What you can do:
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State Senator Darryl Rouson introduced Senate Bill 424 to stop these changes. Ask your representatives to support it and create a matching House bill.
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Request the full Schools of ‘Nope’ Toolkit and related advocacy materials at www.SchoolsOfNope.org.
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Source: Manatee County Women's Club