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.

Florida Public Charter Schools to Celebrate National Charter Schools Week, May 10-16, 2026 

Member Schools of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) are Encouraged to Join a Major Celebration of the Charter Schools Movement 

DAVIE, Fla. (May 5, 2026) – May 10-16, 2026 is National Charter Schools Week, and many of Florida’s charter schools are expected to take part in the major celebration of the charter schools movement.  738 of the nation’s 8,000 public charter schools are located in Florida, and they serve 408,481 Florida students, or more than nine percent of the nearly 4.4 million students attending charter schools throughout the country. 

The Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) is encouraging its member schools to bring the celebration to their Florida communities, to showcase the strong local reach of the charter school movement in the state and its significant impact on Florida students.  

Public charter schools are an important part of the public education landscape in Florida and throughout the country.  Charter school enrollment in Florida represents 14.6 percent of the total K-12 public school enrollment in Florida of 2,792,954 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 is a leader in the national charter schools movement,” said FCPCS President Robert Haag.  “We encourage our member schools to showcase the success of charter schools in their communities during National Charter Schools Week.” 

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.

Florida Public Charter Schools to Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, May 4-8, 2026

Member Schools of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) are Encouraged to Recognize, Honor and Thank Teachers  

DAVIE, Fla. (April 27, 2026) – Teacher Appreciation Week is celebrated nationally from May 4-8, 2026, and many of Florida’s public charter schools plan to recognize, honor and thank their teachers.  

According to the National Parent Teacher Association (National PTA), the 2026 Teacher Appreciation Week celebration is based on the theme, “Teachers Create Magic.”  In 1985, the National PTA designated the first full week in May as Teacher Appreciation Week.  

According to the National PTA website, “We’re celebrating the magic that happens when dedicated educators pour their hearts into helping our children grow.  Every day, teachers transform ordinary moments into extraordinary discoveries.  They turn curiosity into confidence, challenges into triumphs and classrooms into launchpads for dreams.”  

The National PTA offers a Teacher Appreciation Week Toolkit that can be downloaded in both English and Spanish at this link: https://www.pta.org/home/events/PTA-Teacher-Appreciation-Week#:~:text=Teacher%20Appreciation%20Week%20is%20May%204%E2%80%938%2C%202026.,Donating%20school%20supplies%20to%20your%20child's%20teacher.  The toolkit includes thank you cards, certificates, flyers, coloring pages, social media graphics and more.  

Member schools of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) are encouraged to recognize, honor and thank their teachers as part of the 2026 Teacher Appreciation Week.   

“The hard work of Florida’s teachers has a huge impact on the charter school movement in our state,” said FCPCS President Robert Haag.  “Teachers are the backbone of our schools and we hope FCPCS members honor their teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week.” 

In Florida, finalists for the state Teacher of the Year Award are announced in May by the Florida Department of Education.  A state selection committee interviews Florida Teacher of the Year finalists during June.  The winning Florida Teacher of the Year and all of the finalists are honored in July.    

The Florida Department of Education says its Florida Teacher of the Year program, “is meant to celebrate the thousands of outstanding professional educators in Florida schools, not to single out any individual as the best teacher in Florida.” 

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.

Florida Public Charter Schools to Celebrate National Volunteer Week April 19-25, 2026 and Florida School Volunteer Appreciation Month in April 

Member Schools of Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) are Encouraged to Recognize and Honor School Volunteers 

DAVIE, Fla. (April 14, 2026) – April 19 to April 25, 2026 is National Volunteer Week, and many of Florida’s public charter schools are expected to celebrate by recognizing the many volunteers who work hard on behalf of their schools.  National Volunteer Week also coincides with Florida School Volunteer Appreciation Month, celebrated in April.  

Member schools of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools (FCPCS) are encouraged to participate in the 2026 celebration of National Volunteer Week and Florida School Volunteer Appreciation Month. 

National Volunteer Week is organized by the Points of Light Foundation with a mission “to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take actions that change the world.” 

According to information posted on the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) website, Florida School Volunteer Appreciation Month highlights the outstanding dedication provided by volunteers in support of Florida’s educators and students.  

The FDOE description of Florida School Volunteer Month reads, “School volunteers are a vital part of building relationships between schools, parents, community members and business partners, while adding value to the educational experience of students.  From donating time to assist with classroom and school activities to mentoring students, volunteers play a significant role in our schools.  We are grateful to our volunteers who have shown outstanding dedication and commitment to quality education in Florida.  When schools and volunteers work together to support learning, everyone benefits.”  

Schools are encouraged to share volunteer recognition activities at @EducationFL and tag #FLSchoolsVolunteer as another means of highlighting their school volunteers.  

“Our thanks go out to all of the volunteers who make a real difference at members schools of the Florida Consortium of Public Charter Schools,” said FCPCS President Robert Haag.  “We applaud the strong efforts of our member schools to recognize and honor their volunteers, particularly during National Volunteer Week and Florida School Volunteer Appreciation Month.” 

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.