Palm Beach County schools settle money-sharing lawsuit with charter schools. What now?

Palm Beach County's school board approved a $1.1 million settlement Wednesday that ends a years-long dispute about whether charter schools are entitled to as much as $50 million collected from a property tax hike approved by voters for school safety initiatives and higher teacher pay.

Charter schools are public schools run by private entities. The tax increase was designed to be “dedicated for operational needs of non-charter district schools.” The increase generates $200 million each year.

After the ballot measure was approved, now-shuttered Lake Worth charter school Academy for Positive Learning, Lantana charter school Palm Beach Maritime Academy and two parents sued the school board, arguing that charter schools were entitled to a portion of the money.

In 2021, the 4th District Court of Appeal agreed with charter schools. Since then, the district has paid $60 million to charter schools. The charter schools can use the money for day-to-day operating expenses, textbooks, technology, transportation, building, remodeling, and paying debts, according to the settlement.