FL S0246

Summary of Florida SB 246 – Conversion Charter Schools

• Municipalities are authorized to apply to convert any or all public schools within their jurisdictional boundaries to charter schools, including submitting multiple conversions as part of a single application

• The requirement that at least 50 percent of teachers employed at a school support the conversion is eliminated; only 50 percent of parents voting (with a majority of eligible parents participating) must demonstrate support

• The Charter School Review Commission is authorized to solicit and review applications for conversion charter schools, in addition to its existing authority over other charter school applications

• When the Charter School Review Commission denies a conversion application, it must provide written notice of denial within 10 days, including specific reasons and supporting documentation — the same requirement that already applies to district school board denials

• The bill would have taken effect July 1, 2024