This document contains a list of the statutory requirements of charter schools based on the 2012 Florida Statutes. This document is meant to be a checklist for currently operating charter schools to ensure they are meeting statutory requirements of 1002.33. The standard CSU disclaim applies that this is not legal…

The 2017 Legislature approved House Bill #7069 which made many changes to educational and charter school statutes in Florida. The CSU has created a summary of the bill for the changes that are most likely to affect charter schools. Please be aware that this summary is not an official document,…

The 2018 Legislature approved House Bill #7055 which made many changes to educational and charter school statutes in Florida. The CSU has created a summary of the bill for the changes that are most likely to affect charter schools. Please be aware that this summary is not an official document,…

This document is a summary, written by the Charter Support Unit, of changes to the statutes as a result of the 2019 legislative session. The summary includes changes as a result of: House Bill 7070 Senate Bill 7030 House Bill 7123

One of the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Act is ensuring students have the services and equipment that they need in order to be provided a free and appropriate public education. Charter Schools may be required to provide an implement assistive technology for students who are enrolled at the…

With over 10 years of charter administration experience and six years as a charter board member, Dr. April Willis will share experiences, research, and headlines that highlight significant moments in charter governance. From myth-busting to line-drawing, this session will illuminate the dos and don’ts of governance and offer steps to…

It is one of the hardest conversations to have as a school leader, but we cannot shy away from the duty of pruning the garden. This session will provide practical information about preparations for these difficult conversations, as well as opportunities to think through hypothetical but common scenarios with other…

Increasingly, charter schools are receiving public records requests from the media and others. Responding to requests improperly or without thought can cause legal and public relations nightmares. Learn about public records, maintenance requirements, responding to requests from legal and public relations perspectives and what to do when the media calls.

Medical marijuana is legal in Florida and can be prescribed for minors. However, it is still illegal under federal law, so what does this mean for Florida charter schools? This webinar, presented by attorney Kathleen Schoenberg, will review how other states have handled this topic and discuss how lessons from…

Public Records Requests have been on the rise for charter schools, and lawsuits for those who do not properly respond to such requests are a reality for charters throughout Florida. The public records statute was recently changed to require that if someone plans to sue over a public records request,…

Charter school boards are subject to public ethics laws.  In general, charter school management companies are not.  Both must comply with state employment, whistleblower, deceptive trade practice, and false claims act laws.  This session examines the public ethics obligations of charter school boards, the intersection of state statutory regulations with…

Charter School Administrators are not just educational leaders, but also human resource leaders. What exactly does that mean? Join us for this informative webinar presented by Attorney Jeffrey Wood, a Director with Tripp Scott as he reviews the key “dos and don’ts” of human resources from a legal perspective. The…

The Charter School statute (1002.33) is over 17,000 words long and includes many requirements for charter schools and their sponsors. What are the essential pieces governing board members should be focused on? Join us for this informative webinar where we will quickly run through the primary laws that the governing…

One of the most common legal areas charter schools run into is with regards to special education services. Schools must fully understand the the due process rights of the students and families receiving ESE services. This presentation, presented by an attorney who has assisted numerous charter schools with special education…

Student privacy is a hot topic in today’s culture and it is imperative that educators remain knowledgeable in how to protect their students’ rights. Not doing so could result in personal and financial liabilities with long-lasting negative results. This webinar will help you review your responsibility as an educator under…

This webinar focused on the charter school’s responsibilities for accommodating the needs of ESE students, as well as how to work effectively with your School District to ensure compliance.

Here in Florida, charter schools must be organized as or operated by a nonprofit organization, generally classified as a 501(c)(3) school by the Internal Revenue Service and the Florida Department of Revenue. This webinar will provide participants with an overview of the requirements for qualification as a 501(c)(3) school, including…

Charter Schools have the option to be a public or private employer. Florida is an at-will employment state. Many people believe that this means you can just terminate an employee when necessary. While this is true, terminating an employee does open the school up to potential lawsuits. Therefore it is…

The following list of attorneys has been generated by CSU staff. We do not make any assertions about the qualities or expertise of these attorneys, only that they have worked with charter schools in the past. If you know of other attorneys who should be added to this list, please…

Charter School Leaders and Board Members have a variety of laws and administrative rules they need to be aware of. This information is readily available online, but sometimes it is convenient to have a booklet available with all of this information. The Charter Support Unit has compiled these statutes and…

Charter schools are constantly forced to deal with issues involving students that extend far beyond the classroom. Parents fighting over custody of the child, court orders that split time sharing of a student between parents, restraining orders limiting contact or communication between students/staff/parents; police investigations involving students/staff; DCF investigations involving…

As a charter school, your Governing Board is a public entity, and subject to all of the rules and regulations of the “Government in the Sunshine” act in Florida Statutes. Understanding these rules is essential to ensure you have a properly operating Board. This presentation will highlight some of the…

For Charter Schools fully understanding the charter contract is essential. The contract defines the relationship between the district and the school, and the requirements the school must abide by. When charter school leaders reach out for help, usually the first question asked is “what does your contract say?” This presentation…

This presentation was for people or groups who are thinking about submitting a charter application. Mr. Woodring discusses the process and common legal priorities that charter applicants should be aware of as they work to develop their charter application to start a new school.

Each year Attorney Daniel Woodring of the Woodring Law Firm presents one of the most popular sessions at the Florida Charter School Conference regarding legal updates and changes to charter school law and related cases. Mr. Woodring will provide his 2018 presentation during this free webinar. The webinar will focus…

The 2013 Legislature passed several bills that include numerous changes that charter schools operators need to be aware of. These include changes related to the application process, contract negotiations, financial statements, closure protocols, and the distribution of federal funds. Join us for this informative webinar where we will highlight the…

Last Updated July 21, 2013 The list below is a list of Attorney General opinions that specifically reference charter schools in their subjects. A complete list of opinions is available online at http://myfloridalegal.com/ago.nsf/Opinions, and the other opinions may also relate to Charters as a public / not for profit. If…

The two largest expenses charter schools face are typically employees and facilities. Negotiating a favorable lease is essential to not only ensuring that the school is paying an appropriate amount for their space, but also to be sure they are protected into the future and can use the space for…

This will be the first virtual meeting for this year’s New School Institute. We will briefly review what we discussed in October at the Charter School Conference, discuss the future meetings for the New School Institute and take a look at the state’s model charter school contract to prepare for…

The January 19, 2017 is the second training as part of the 2017 New School Institute.  The aim of the New School Institute is to bring together leaders from charter schools who plan to open their doors in 2017 or 2018 to help the get on track to a successful…