Florida Law Mandates Free Public School Services for Co-locating Charter Schools

Florida's recently enacted Senate Bill 2510 is enabling "Schools of Hope" charter programs to co-locate within existing public school facilities, mandating that host public schools provide a range of services and facilities to these charter schools at no cost. The legislation, which went into effect in July 2025, has sparked significant debate among educators and policymakers across the state.

The Florida Board of Education approved rules in September 2025, requiring public school districts to allow charter schools to utilize underused, vacant, or surplus facilities without charge. Furthermore, districts must extend facility-related services, including custodial work, maintenance, safety, food service, nursing, and student transportation, to these co-located charter schools "without limitation" and at no expense to the charter operators. Kristy Tillman, a concerned individual, highlighted this aspect on social media, stating, > "Tonight I learned about legislation happening in Florida (Schools of Hope) that allows charter schools to literally move into (Co-locate) 'underutilized' public schools. The public school host must provide services and facilities to the charter school for FREE."

This expansion builds upon the 2017 "Schools of Hope" program, initially designed to attract high-performing charter schools to areas with persistently low-performing traditional public schools. The new law loosens restrictions, allowing co-location even in high-performing public schools if space is available. Charter operators, such as Mater Academy, have already begun sending notices of intent to numerous districts, including Orange, Sarasota, Duval, and Manatee counties, signaling plans for new charter schools to open as early as 2027.

Public school officials across Florida have voiced strong concerns regarding the financial implications and potential strain on district resources. Orange County Public Schools board member Alicia Farrant warned that the move "could be really substantial financially," leading to less funding for public schools and further budget cuts. Similarly, Sarasota County Schools Superintendent Terry Connor estimated the cost of providing free services could be "hundreds of thousands of dollars on an annual basis" for his district, questioning the sustainability of the model.

Critics argue that the law represents a "hostile takeover" or a "parasitic" relationship, with public education advocates like India Miller likening it to "asking Home Depot to give Lowe's space in their store and pay all of their infrastructure costs." The legislation is part of a broader push by Governor Ron DeSantis and Republican lawmakers to expand "school choice" in Florida, a movement that has drawn opposition from Democrats and organizations advocating for traditional public education. District leaders are exploring limited options to challenge co-location requests, often citing "material impracticability," but the state's rules provide little recourse.