Florida Approves Charter School Expansion

School choice in the Sunshine State got a major boost this week after the Board of Education approved a set of rules guaranteeing charter schools the same maintenance, transportation, and food services as traditional public schools, in addition to allowing them to operate in empty spaces within existing schools. Gov. Ron DeSantis previously signed into law expanding the “Schools of Hope” program, where charter schools can operate in the same neighborhoods as low-income or low-performing traditional public schools pending rules set by the state Board of Education. Sept. 24’s resolution establishes criteria allowing Schools of Hope access to “underused, vacant, or surplus facilities within school districts,” and also outlines the resolution process between traditional public-school districts and Schools of Hope operators should disputes occur....