Summer Institute countdown: 11 weeks
Why charter schools?
Charter schools can be disruptive to the functioning of public education; on one hand, they receive public funds as well as private, yet operate without some of the restrictions of public schools. On the other hand, they can provide a more targeted education for particular student groups who may struggle in mainstream education, like teen parents and caretakers–but are they truly public schools? In 2021, the State of Florida determined that yes, they are, which means that Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade must now retroactively share referendum tax dollars with charter schools. In Broward’s case, this is a total of $80 million to the county’s 87 charter schools (Sun Sentinel; Broward Schools).
Why $80 million?
In 2018, voters in Broward passed a referendum to increase teacher pay, provide school safety officers, and contribute to mental health counselors. The wording of the referendum didn’t state whether this money was to be shared with charter schools. So it wasn’t, at first. This was debated by the school board, but ultimately, members voted no, partly due to concerns over financial mismanagement by some charter schools. However, this was just a few months after the Stoneman Douglas shooting and, after all, some of this money was for student safety. Should the students in charter schools be less protected than in traditional public schools? The School Board agreed to give $4.6 million to district charter schools, with the remit to support one armed officer for each school with at least 900 students enrolled. In 2023, that original referendum tax was due to expire, so in 2022, Broward County again asked voters for money for public schools and charter schools. The voters agreed and the School Board paid out to charter schools as well as traditional public schools (Sun Sentinel).
Charter schools are public schools?
Meanwhile, in 2021 the State of Florida decided, and informed districts, that the term public schools encompassed both traditional and charter public schools, and Florida’s courts have upheld this. School boards must now retroactively give district charter schools their share from the 2018 referendum for teacher pay and mental health counselors, hence Broward’s $80m bill.
Can Broward afford to pay?
The School Board can’t not afford to pay. Governor Ron DeSantis has already weighed in on the side of charter schools. They were sued by 30 charter schools last year, and the Board of Education found “probable cause” that Broward was in the wrong. The funds are due by the end of this year. If they don’t pay up, Broward could have state or federal money withheld, and DeSantis will likely be keen to get involved again; he temporarily replaced three Democrat board members with Republicans last year (Sun Sentinel).
So what does this mean for teachers?
It’s unclear as yet. What is clear, however, is that Broward Schools are now short of money. They agreed to a recent much-needed payrise for teachers at an additional cost of $175m, but almost $20m of federal funds will expire later this year. Where will the school board make cuts? Even Superintendent Peter Licata is concerned, citing lower enrolments and facilities in need of repair (Local 10 News). For a start, summer 2024 professional development stipends have been cut significantly. Will this hit the overall budget for providing professional training, too?
What does this have to do with SFWP?
The SoFlo Writing Project focuses on professional development for teachers to support you as an educator, and also as a writer and researcher. National Writing Project teachers at other sites have gone on to become advocates, both for students and teachers. We offer you free, quality, fully-funded, small-group professional development for all teachers of writing to help you develop your own voice, your own writing, and research practices. Charter school? Welcome. Public school? Welcome. Private school? Welcome. We support ALL teachers.
Click here to apply for the 2024 Invitational Summer Institute – applications close May 31st.
Broward Charter Schools https://www.browardschools.com/Charter-Schools#:~:text=Broward%20County%20currently%20has%2087%20charter%20schools.
Florida Department of Education Charter Schools FAQ https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice/charter-schools/charter-school-faqs.stml#:~:text=Charter%20schools%20are%20public%20schools,for%20academic%20and%20financial%20results.
Broward Schools had warnings of charter school funding controversy. The Sun Sentinel https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2024/03/30/broward-schools-had-warnings-of-charter-school-funding-controversy/
Broward teachers getting a pay rise, here’s how much. Local 10 News https://www.local10.com/news/local/2024/02/27/broward-teachers-getting-a-pay-raise-heres-how-much/#:~:text=On%20average%2C%20teachers%20will%20now,a%203.42%20and%204.56%25%20increase.