Frequently Asked Questions

What are charter schools?




Do charter schools charge tuition?


Are charter schools required to employ certified teachers?


How are charter schools evaluated and assessed?


Are charter schools graded?

Yes. Charter schools are evaluated and assigned a school grade by the Florida Department of Education using the same standards and criteria as district-run public schools.

Who is eligible to attend a charter school?

Charter schools are open to all students residing within the district; however, charter schools are allowed to target students within specific age groups or grade levels, students considered at-risk of dropping out or failing, students wishing to enroll in a charter school-in-the-workplace or charter school-in-a-municipality, students residing within a reasonable distance of the school, students who meet reasonable academic, artistic or other eligibility standards established by the charter school, or students articulating from one charter school to another. Additionally, a charter school may give enrollment preference to the following student populations:

Siblings of current charter school students
Children of a charter school governing board member or employee
Children of employees of the business partner of a charter school-in-the-workplace or resident of the municipality in which such a charter is located
Children of residents of a municipality that operates a charter school-in-a-municipality
Students who have successfully completed a voluntary prekindergarten program provided by the charter school during the previous year
Children of an active-duty member of any branch of the US Armed Forces.

How are charter school student enrollments funded?


What are the specific requirements for charter schools?

A charter school is required by the Florida statutes to:


◦ admit students as provided in subsection (10)

◦ be accountable to its sponsor for its performance

◦ not charge tuition and fees



◦ subject itself to an annual financial audit


◦ annually adopt and maintain an operating budget

◦ provide an annual financial report and program cost report information


◦ not levy taxes or issue bonds secured by tax revenues

What is a high-performing charter school?









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