FL H1259

Charter schools must meet specific eligibility criteria to receive capital outlay funds, including operating for 2+ years, maintaining satisfactory financial audits, achieving adequate student performance, and serving students in non-sponsor-provided facilities.

Charter schools are ineligible for capital outlay funds if they are conversion schools operating in sponsor-provided facilities at nominal cost, are developmental research schools, or have governing board members with financial interests in lessors.

State funds for charter school capital outlay are allocated using a weighted full-time equivalent (FTE) system, with additional 25-50% funding weights for schools serving 75%+ low-income students or 25%+ students with disabilities.

School districts levying discretionary millage for capital outlay must distribute funds to eligible charter schools on a phased schedule: 20% in fiscal year 2023-2024, increasing to 100% by fiscal year 2027-2028, with distribution required by February 1 annually.

Charter schools may use capital outlay funds for real property, facility construction and renovation, student transportation vehicles, computer hardware and software, library collections, and property insurance, with all purchases required to be at appraised fair market value.