Broward schools to pay over $100M to district charter schools in settlement

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Broward County School Board agreed Tuesday to pay over $100 million to local charter schools following a legal battle.

The settlement stems from the district receiving money from a 2018 referendum for teacher pay, safety and security and mental health.

According to reports, the settlement amounts to $108 million. Specifically, district charter schools will be paid $67 million in original debt and $41 million from interest accrued.

In March, Florida Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz Jr. and the State Board of Education approved a motion that required the school board to comply with state law and pay back more than $80 million owed to charter schools in their district.

Back in 2018, Broward County voters passed a referendum to provide additional funding to public schools. However, the department noted the district “failed” to share those dollars with its charter schools.

The state’s reprimand followed a letter sent to the Broward County School District on March 7 stating they were not in compliance with Florida law. Specifically, the district did not share revenue collected through discretionary tax with its charter schools levied under Florida Statute section 1011.71 (9).

“The State Board of Education and the Florida Department of Education will ensure that districts provide charter schools their rightful share of funding from local referendums,” the release said.

Among its details, ten schools operated by Charter Schools USA, including six under the name Renaissance were to receive $26.9 million. Another 24 schools named Somerset Academy were to receive $25.4 million.

Gov. Ron DeSantis also addressed the issue at a news conference back in March.

“I think what they [Broward schools] were doing is not following the spirit of the law and these charter programs,” DeSantis said.