Florida’s Charter Schools Clarify Their Public School Status

Charter Schools are Tuition-Free Public Schools under Florida Law

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — May 11, 2026 — The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) today clarified the public school status of Florida’s charter schools.  Some recent news reports regarding a voucher lawsuit in Florida have incorrectly characterized charter schools as private schools or voucher schools.  The lawsuit concerns private schools participating in voucher programs, not public charter schools.

Under Florida Statute 1002.33, charter schools are tuition‑free public schools and part of Florida’s system of free public education. They do not receive voucher funds and are funded through the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP), using the same formula applied to district‑run public schools.

Florida’s charter school sector continues to grow because families want high‑quality public school options.  According to FCPCS:

• 408,481 students attend Florida public charter schools
• 738 charter schools operate across 46 counties in the state
• Charter schools serve 14.6% of Florida’s 2,7922,954 public school students
• Both the number of Florida charter schools and the number of students enrolled in Florida charter schools increased during the most recent school year

Florida’s public charter schools operate under rigorous oversight from their district sponsors and from the state.  According to FCPCS:

• Charter school teachers must be certified by the Florida Department of Education — the same requirement applied to district teachers
• Charter schools administer all statewide assessments
• Charter schools receive state accountability grades using the same criteria as district schools
• Charter schools must submit monthly or quarterly financial reports, an annual independent financial audit, and undergo a state‑mandated operational review
• District sponsors have the authority to close a charter school for academic or financial underperformance

“Charter schools are part of Florida’s public school system,” said Robert Haag, President of FCPCS.  “We share the same mission -- ensuring every child in Florida has access to a high‑quality public education.”

He continued, “Florida’s public charter schools work closely with their district sponsors every day.  We welcome accountability, we follow the law, and we serve hundreds of thousands of Florida students in communities across this state.”

About Florida's Public Charter Schools

Since 1999, Florida’s public charter schools have provided innovative, student‑centered learning environments that expand high‑quality public education options for families. Charter schools are nonprofit, nonsectarian public schools governed by volunteer boards and held to rigorous academic and financial standards.

About the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools     

The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is the leading charter school membership association in the state.  Since its inception in 1999, FCPCS has been dedicated to creating a national model of high quality, accredited public charter schools that are student-centered and performance-driven.  FCPCS provides a wide array of technical support, mentoring, training, networking, and purchasing services to its membership, as well as serving as an advocate for all Florida public charter schools.