A charter technical career center sponsored by a school district will continue to be governed by the school district in the event that there is a change in governance of public technical career centers. Charter school capital outlay funds will be distributed after the second and third enrollment surveys, thus allowing newly opened charter schools to be counted. The bill amends s. 196.29, F.S., to include charter schools in the list of entities that may receive a pro rata exemption from ad valorem taxes. The bill also creates s. 196.1983, F.S., to exempt from ad valorem taxes any portion of a facility used for a charter school. In the event that a charter school is dissolved or terminated, reversion of the property to the school board is subject to complete satisfaction of any lawful liens or encumbrances.
Several provisions support the conversion of public schools to charter status.
The bill prohibits unlawful reprisals against district school board employees who initiate a charter school conversion. Unlawful reprisals include dismissal, reduction in pay, or disciplinary or corrective action. The Department of Education must investigate each complaint and, if reasonable grounds exist, present a fact-finding report to the district school superintendent and provide for a hearing by an impartial panel. Conversion charter schools are excluded from the cap that is established for districts. A school board may ask the State Board of Education to increase the limit on the number of charter schools authorized for that district.