Legislative Updates

About the Webinar:

Shawn Arnold and Kathleen Schoenberg provided a fast-paced update on the numerous legislative changes affecting Florida charter schools in 2025. They began by outlining new requirements around governance, student codes of conduct, and school safety. Schools now have the authority to adopt stricter conduct codes than their districts, but must ensure parent acknowledgment and grievance procedures. Substitute teachers must undergo campus-specific safety training, wireless device restrictions have been tightened, and new policies are required in areas like dismissal, volunteer screening, and student welfare. The attorneys emphasized transparency, due process, and proactive policy adoption to remain compliant with the updated statutes.

The session highlighted several new health and safety mandates. Schools serving middle and high school students must integrate CPR and AED training, and by 2027 all schools must have a plan for urgent lifesaving emergencies (“PULSE”) and at least one AED on campus. Human trafficking awareness training will also become mandatory for staff, with required documentation of completion. Updated safety rules clarified door-locking procedures, expanded training expectations for school guardians, and redefined start and end times with an option for charters to opt out if justified. The presenters stressed the importance of documenting policies, training, and compliance measures to avoid liability.

On governance and personnel issues, Arnold and Schoenberg detailed expanded requirements for background checks, mandatory reporting, and the handling of staff arrests. They noted that any felony or disqualifying misdemeanor arrest must result in immediate classroom removal within 24 hours, signaling a significant tightening of rules. They also explained conflict-of-interest provisions for charter boards, particularly around facilities leases, and flagged the coming introduction of a standardized state monitoring tool for all districts to use with charter schools. These changes aim to ensure consistency and reduce local variances in oversight.

Finally, the attorneys addressed charter-specific updates with far-reaching implications. Enrollment expansion is now a statutory right, provided facilities can support it. High-performing charters may more easily absorb struggling schools, and new rules clarify construction and zoning processes to ensure charters are treated equitably with districts. Additional updates included athletic participation rights for virtual and private school students, revised conversion processes for district schools, and expanded opportunities for Schools of Hope, including co-location with existing schools. The presentation closed with a reminder that many changes carry immediate or near-term compliance deadlines, and the Arnold Law Firm has created action step guides and training resources to help schools navigate the evolving legal landscape.