August 2026 FCI Connect | A New Year, A New Beginning
Welcome to FCI Connect
From the desk of our Executive Director
Welcome Back to School – Here We Go!!
There is something about the first weeks of school.
Fresh notebooks. Sharpened pencils. New shoes that will somehow look old by Friday. Teachers ready. Leaders focused. Families hopeful. And students walking through school doors carrying more possibility than any backpack could hold.
Welcome back, Florida charter school friends.
At the Florida Charter Schools Institute at Miami Dade College, we are heading into this school year with a little extra spring in our step because, for us, this one is historic.
This past month, CIVICA Soho Career and Collegiate Academy opened its doors.
And with that, Miami Dade College officially becomes a charter school authorizer with students in seats.
That is a very big deal.
CIVICA Soho is the first of what we believe will be many high-quality public education choices authorized by Miami Dade College in the years ahead. We are proud to welcome its students, families, teachers, leaders, and governing board into the MDC family—and even prouder of what this milestone represents.
Because authorizing is not about collecting schools.
It is about creating the conditions for great schools to take root and thrive.
It is about setting a high bar, protecting school autonomy, insisting on results, and making room for talented educators with bold ideas to build something extraordinary for kids.
And that feels like exactly the right spirit for a new school year.
Across Florida, charter educators are opening doors, trying new things, sweating the small stuff, solving hard problems, and doing the wonderfully unglamorous work of building great schools one student, one classroom, and one day at a time.
So here’s to the year ahead. To big goals and smart risks. To strong teams, great teaching. Here is to more great seats for kids.
And to CIVICA Soho—the first one through the door.
School is in session. Let’s build something great.
Featured Article | Starting 2026 Strong
You have welcomed students back for the 2026-27 school year, there is a renewed sense of purpose and opportunity across our schools. The first days of school set the tone for the entire year, and each interaction we have with students, families, and one another helps shape the culture of belonging, achievement, and excellence that we strive to build every day.
Strong Starts Matter
Research and experience consistently show that a strong start to the school year leads to stronger outcomes throughout the months ahead. Establishing routines, building positive relationships, setting high expectations, and creating safe learning environments during the opening weeks can have a lasting impact on student engagement and success. Every classroom, office, hallway, and bus route contributes to the student experience and helps establish the foundation for a productive year.
Every Student Should Feel Welcome
One of our most important responsibilities is ensuring that every student feels seen, valued, and connected from the moment they arrive on campus. A warm greeting, a positive conversation, and a genuine interest in a student’s well-being can make a tremendous difference. Whether students are returning to familiar classrooms or entering a new school for the first time, we want them to know they belong here and that we believe in their potential.
Let us be intentional in creating environments where students feel respected, supported, and encouraged to take risks as learners. When students experience a sense of belonging, they are more likely to engage, participate, and thrive.
Embracing the Opportunities of AI
As we look ahead, artificial intelligence will continue to influence education in meaningful ways. AI is not a replacement for great teaching, strong relationships, or professional expertise. Rather, it is a tool that can help educators work more efficiently, personalize learning experiences, analyze data, generate ideas, and spend more time focused on students.
As educators, our challenge is to help students learn how to use AI responsibly, ethically, and critically. We must model thoughtful use of emerging technologies while continuing to emphasize creativity, problem-solving, communication, and human connection. The future will require students who can harness technology while exercising sound judgment and critical thinking.
Moving Forward Together
This school year presents an opportunity to build on our successes and continue growing as a learning community. By focusing on strong starts, welcoming every student with intention, and embracing innovation thoughtfully, we can create the conditions for meaningful learning and achievement.
Thank you for your dedication, passion, and commitment to our students. Your work changes lives every day, and together we will make the 2026-27 school year one of growth, opportunity, and success for all.
Welcome back, and best wishes for an outstanding school year!
FCI Insight
Turn back-to-school optimism into lasting student success. As schools launch a new year full of energy and possibility, the key is pairing ambition with the right systems and supports. FCI’s Action Steps Guide and Beginning-of-Year Observation Checklist give leaders and teachers practical, research-informed tools to strengthen instruction, build classroom excellence, and focus coaching where it matters most. Together, these resources help schools transform the promise of a fresh start into measurable growth and achievement for every student. Check out the Article Here.
Research & Commentary
As part of FCI’s mission, we conduct and support education research and provide commentary and thought leadership on the charter movement both in Florida and nationally. See recent highlights from this work below:
Published articles & commentary
A People Business: How Excellent Charter Schools Hire Teachers (By Thibaut Delloue, Education Next, 07/28/2026): Through interviews with leaders in some of Florida’s best charter schools, we examine how the state’s charter sector overcomes its resource limitations to attract and retain high-quality teachers and produce outstanding results for students.
How the Other Half Chooses: A New Era of Choice for the Charter Movement (By Thibaut Delloue, Real Clear Education, 07/14/2026): We examine how state education policy and the charter movement can evolve to better serve all parents and students.
What Florida Can Learn from the Southern Surge in Education (By Thibaut Delloue, Orlando Sentinel, 06/25/2026): Although Florida is a leader in education choice, our Southern neighbors can provide ways to continue to improve our approach to literacy and instruction.
Additional Resources
2026 National Charter School Law Scorecard (Center for Education Reform): For the 3rd year in a row, Florida’s charter school law is rated #1 in the nation. With recent improvements to facilities access and funding, including for Schools of Hope, and the continuous bolstering of the state’s charter authorizing system, Florida provides coherent policies and programs to ensure its charter sector is flexible, high-quality, and accountable.
Financial Fellowship Applications Are Open
The Florida Charter Institute is now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Financial Fellowship, a premier program designed to prepare exceptional finance leaders who will safeguard school sustainability, protect taxpayer dollars, and strengthen Florida’s charter sector.
Program Highlights
- Cohort-based professional development
- Face-to-face training with leading national finance and real estate experts
- In-person and virtual training with experienced finance experts
- Real-world case studies and mentorship
Who Should Apply
- Experienced finance professionals ready to enter the charter sector
- Current charter school staff with financial aptitude and leadership potential
- Aspiring charter school financial leaders
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through October 2026. Apply today!
For more information, please visit: https://flcharterinstitute.org/financial-fellowship/
Upcoming Programming
Two Fellowships. One Miami Convening
September 17–18, 2026
Two fellowships. Two days. A whole lot of leadership horsepower headed to Miami.
On September 17–18, the Florida Charter Schools Institute’s Distinguished CEO Fellows and Finance Fellows will come together at Miami Dade College’s West Campus for a joint convening built around one big idea: great schools need great leaders at every seat around the table.
Our Distinguished CEO Fellows will be led by Paul Powell, former Executive Director of True North Classical Academy and longtime member of the FCI family, while our own Kathryn Perkins is away doing the most important leadership work of all: new parent leave.
On September 17, we are thrilled to welcome FIU’s acclaimed Center for Leadership to work with both cohorts on the art—and hard work—of leading people and organizations well.
Then on September 18, our Finance Fellows will spend the day with our resident finance guru, Judy Marte, digging into the numbers, decisions, and strategic thinking that turn talented finance professionals into indispensable C-suite partners.
Because strong schools do not happen by accident. They are built by leaders who know their craft, know their numbers, know their people—and keep getting better.
CEOs and finance leaders. Strategy and execution. Mission and math. We like the combination.
And for all you finance types reading this and thinking, I want in—keep your eyes open. Applications for the second class of Florida Charter Schools Institute Finance Fellows will be coming in the months ahead.
Miami, here we come.
The Governance Conference
September 19, 2026
Florida Charter School Conference
November 17, - 19, 2026
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FCI Connect is the monthly newsletter from the Florida Charter Institute. FCI’s mission is to serve as Florida’s premier hub for charter excellence and insight by providing research-based best practices, resources, and support. FCI is powered by Miami Dade College and authorized in Florida statute.
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