Gov. DeSantis highlights bill to speed conversions to charter schools

Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to quicken the timeline for school districts to convert a failing traditional public school into a charter school. Time is of the essence when improving schools, he said.

“If you drag your feet for three or four years, that’s three or four years of students who aren’t getting the education they should be getting,” DeSantis said at a press conference in Escambia County.

He was highlighting a provision within HB 1285. The section requires school districts who opt to convert a failing traditional public school to a charter school to have a contract with a charter school company by Oct. 1 of the final year of control of the school. That would give the company enough time to prepare a turnaround plan.

But DeSantis hasn’t signed the bill yet because the Legislature hasn’t formally sent it to his desk. He plans to sign it once he receives it.