FL S0536

Establishes the High-Performing Charter School Council to review and recommend approval or denial of applications from high-performing charter schools and systems to the State Board of Education.

Council membership must include representatives from currently operating charter schools and sponsors in equal numbers, with at least one member from a high-performing charter school, and is chaired by the Commissioner of Education or designee.

Council must review applications within 30 days and submit written recommendations to the State Board within 10 days; State Board must accept or deny recommendations within 60 days, with both decisions subject to judicial review.

Applications may be recommended for denial by the council or denied by the State Board only upon clear and convincing evidence of material noncompliance with requirements, failure to replicate educational programs, material misrepresentation, or inadequate educational or financial practices.

Removes the automatic approval provision for high-performing charter school applications if sponsors fail to act within 90 days, instead routing those applications through the new council review process.