Darryl Rouson moves to pull plug on Schools of Hope ‘colocation’ rule as public schools brace for takeovers

Florida’s public schools are bracing for a new wave of charter school takeovers starting Tuesday, when districts across the state begin receiving formal notices identifying campuses targeted under the expanded Schools of Hope program.

But even as those letters go out, state lawmakers are already working to pull the plug on the program’s most controversial piece: a rule that allows private charter operators to move into “underused” public school buildings rent-free.

SB 424, filed by Democratic Sen. Darryl Rouson of St. Petersburg, would repeal that provision. The measure would remove language in state law that requires school districts to permit charter “Hope operators” to use underused, vacant or surplus facilities without paying rent or covering maintenance and operational costs. If approved, Rouson’s bill would take effect July 1, 2026.

“Constituents and stakeholders from across the state have reached out to my office with concerns about the overly broad Schools of Hope program,” Rouson said in a statement.

“By eliminating language requiring colocation in public schools, we are ensuring schools do not face the unintentional consequence of an unfunded mandate, and that students can continue thriving in their schools without losing access to spaces they need for academic success.”

Critics say the program forces local districts to subsidize private charter operations at taxpayer expense and “represents yet another attack on public education through the systemic defunding of the classrooms” already squeezed by funding that has not kept pace with inflation.

The colocation rule, which took effect with the 2025-26 state budget, opened the program to every district containing an “Opportunity Zone,” which effectively includes all school districts in Florida.

The repeal effort comes as school districts across the state scramble to prevent potential takeovers. 

In Jacksonville, Duval County officials are meeting with members of their legislative delegation after receiving notice that South Florida charter operator Mater Academy seeks to occupy space in more than two dozen schools.

In Broward County, the district is canceling a $2.6 million lease with a local nonprofit to move staff into vacant buildings and block the takeover of 27 campuses also targeted by Mater.

Sarasota County Schools is taking similar steps, drafting a strategic plan to eliminate underused space by selling its district headquarters, relocating staff to school campuses, and reconfiguring or expanding programs to keep classrooms filled.

Supporters of efforts to repeal the program, including the Florida Coalition for Thriving Public Schools and the Florida Education Association, argue that the state’s push to expand charter access has gone too far. They say repealing the rule would restore fairness and give districts a chance to focus on improving their own schools without having to host private competitors in their own buildings.

“Our public schools are already underfunded and stretched thin,” Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar said in the statement. “The Schools of Hope expansion is yet another scheme to strip local control from districts and hand public dollars to private charter corporations.”