DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – The Duval County School Board is expected to discuss the controversial “Schools of Hope” law during a meeting Tuesday morning.
Recent expansions to Florida’s Schools of Hope program allow a handful of charter operators to move into neighborhoods served by struggling traditional public schools. The new rules compel districts to allow “Schools of Hope” to use district buildings rent-free, and to allow existing schools to share common areas and resources with the private operators.
Tuesday’s meeting will come almost two weeks after the Duval County School Board said it had rejected requests from Miami-based Mater Academy to open charters in two Jacksonville schools under the “Schools of Hope” law.
Merrill Road Elementary and Fort Caroline School of the Arts were targeted by the charter school company for possible co-location.
The district sent letters to parents on Jan. 8 confirming it rejected Mater Academy’s request, saying it would be “materially impracticable” to share either school.
RELATED | Duval County School Board rejects ‘Schools of Hope’ requests from Mater Academy for 2 DCPS schools
Mater initially expressed interest in 25 DCPS campuses, but later withdrew 23 of those requests.
On Jan. 6, the school board added Schools of Hope to its legislative agenda.
Board Chair Charlotte Joyce and Vice Chair April Carney opposed adding Schools of Hope to the agenda, while Board members Cindy Pearson and Darryl Willie supported it.
This decision also came with some pushback from community members.
“We need to do anything we can to fight back against the Schools of Hope law. In the amendment I hope you will seriously advocate with the legislative delegation. And I hope we will protect the schools from being taken over by squatters,” Gloria Einstein, an advocate against Schools of Hope, said.
Tuesday’s meeting begins at 9 a.m.