The collaboration between Charter Schools USA and Step Up For Students (SUFS) will give Florida’s education choice scholarship students access to individual classes at 62 charter school campuses.
Two of the leading organizations in Florida’s united education choice movement said by joining forces it will expand access to learning opportunities at charter schools across the state.
Florida’s 500,000 K-12 scholarship students are allowed to use their scholarships to purchase individual classes and other services from charter schools and school districts. More than 100,000 of those students use scholarships that allow them to fully customize their child’s education without attending a private school full time.
When August rolls around for the beginning of the school year, one in three of the state’s 67 school districts and five charter school networks will offer flexible learning opportunities to scholarship students.
Keith Jacobs, Step Up’s assistant director of provider development says with the two groups working together it will help local school districts and public charter schools to find creative ways to serve scholarship students.
“Charter schools began more than 30 years ago with a mission to bring much-needed innovations to education,” Jacobs said. “At Step Up, we are committed to supporting public schools across the state as they explore new opportunities to reach scholarship families. Charter Schools USA, with its proven ability to serve students across Florida, will supercharge these efforts.”
Education choice is the norm in Florida, where 3.5 million K-12 students attended schools or learning environments chosen by their families, a testament to decades of efforts by the state’s leaders to support a united movement to increase opportunities for students.
“By opening its campuses across the state for scholarship students, Charter Schools USA is helping set the pace for education innovation,” said Gretchen Schoenhaar, CEO of Step Up For Students. “Working with charter schools in a united movement expands access to flexible, quality learning options for Florida families.”
