Public School Facilities Usage Study

About the Webinar:

This data-driven session presented findings from a groundbreaking statewide study examining public school facilities usage across Florida, with particular attention to implications for charter school access to district facilities. Thibaut Delloue and Susie Miller Carello from the Florida Charter Institute, along with Jim Griffin and Brooke Quisenberry from Momentum Strategy and Research, shared comprehensive research revealing significant underutilization of traditional public school buildings throughout the state. The study analyzed enrollment trends, facility capacity, and space usage patterns across Florida’s school districts, uncovering substantial amounts of unused or underutilized classroom space even as charter schools face persistent facilities challenges. The presenters demonstrated how declining enrollment in many traditional public schools, coupled with changing educational delivery models and demographic shifts, has created opportunities for more efficient facility sharing and co-location arrangements that could benefit both charter schools seeking affordable space and districts looking to maximize taxpayer investments in public education infrastructure.

The research team provided detailed analysis of the legal framework governing charter school facilities access in Florida, including existing statutes that require districts to make unused facilities available to charter schools and the practical barriers that have limited implementation of these provisions. They presented case studies illustrating successful and unsuccessful facility-sharing arrangements, identifying best practices and common obstacles. The presenters also shared policy recommendations for improving charter access to public facilities, including enhanced transparency requirements for facility inventories, clearer criteria for determining availability, standardized lease terms, and stronger accountability mechanisms. Throughout the session, the team emphasized that better utilization of existing public school facilities represents a win-win opportunity—allowing charter schools to overcome their most significant operational challenge while helping districts reduce maintenance costs and generate revenue from otherwise vacant space. Attendees gained valuable insights into the current facilities landscape, data to support advocacy efforts, and strategies for navigating district facilities conversations in their local communities.