FL S0538

Requires charter school applicants to demonstrate they meet specific instructional needs or educational facility needs that the local school district does not or is unable to meet in order to obtain charter status.

Maintains existing guiding principles for charter schools including meeting high academic standards, promoting accountability, and providing parents with information on student reading level and annual learning progress.

Preserves charter schools' required purposes of improving student learning, increasing learning opportunities for low-performing students and reading instruction, encouraging innovative learning methods, and measuring learning outcomes.

Adds authority for charter schools to share results of innovative methods and best practices with the school district as an optional purpose.

Takes effect July 1, 2017.