February 2026 FCI Connect | Momentum You Can Measure
Welcome to FCI Connect
From the desk of our Executive Director
Florida’s charter landscape is getting a little more… grown-up. Not louder. Not flashier. Just better. Because when high-performing schools want to replicate, Florida now has more than one doorway that says, “Come on in—but bring receipts.”
That’s where the Florida Charter Institute (FCI) comes in—working shoulder-to-shoulder with Florida’s higher education institution (HEI) authorizers and alongside the state’s Charter School Review Commission to help the replication pipeline reward what actually matters: strong academics, strong operations, and a track record that holds up in daylight.
Replication is not copy-paste. It’s copy-purpose—and then prove you can deliver it again, for real kids, in real classrooms, with real accountability. That’s why this work is equal parts enthusiasm and discipline: we’re excited about “yes,” but we’re even more excited about “yes, because the evidence is undeniable.”
And here’s the fun part: this is momentum you can actually see. If you’ve been following FCI’s updates, you’ve already caught glimpses—authorizing work, research that sharpens the policy conversation, and professional learning that keeps adults getting better so kids can, too. (Yes, we’re the people who think “instructional technique” is a love language.)
Also: consider this your friendly tease. There’s more coming—more partnerships, more quality gates, more schools that deserve to grow—and we can’t wait to share what’s next when it’s ready for prime time. In the meantime, take a peek at the Florida Charter Institute’s LinkedIn page for a running highlight reel of the work.
Warm Regards,
Susie
FCI Podcast "Great Leaders = Great Schools" Releases New Episode
Our latest episode on our podcast Great Leaders = Great Schools explores an extraordinary conversion story.
Host Jessica Chapman, FCI Support Division Lead, sits down with Lacy Roberts and Derek Danne of Newberry Community School, in the midst of their conversion journey. They discuss the challenges, opportunities, and vision behind this exciting transition.
Opening in August 2026, Newberry Community School is paving the way for innovation, collaboration, and student-focused learning in Newberry, Florida.
Find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts!
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/eHGTYUjt
Apple Podcasts: https://lnkd.in/e_NRapzY
Upcoming Programming
March 26, 2026
Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Leaders Meeting | Open to Florida leaders
This statewide convening of Exceptional Student Education (ESE) leaders will be centered on collaboration, shared learning, and practical problem-solving to strengthen support for students with disabilities across Florida charter schools. The meeting will be an interactive, working session where leaders can connect with colleagues from across the state, exchange ideas, and engage in meaningful dialogue around compliance, service delivery, staffing, and improving student outcomes.
March 31, 2026
FCI Webinar | One Lesson, Many Learners: What Does “Differentiation” Truly Mean?
In this 45-minute webinar, educators and school leaders will explore practical strategies for designing flexible lessons and practices that enhance communication and participation while providing multiple entry points for students with varied learning needs. Participants will examine how communication supports embedded in core instruction and classroom routines can strengthen differentiation, inclusion, and IEP implementation. The session will also demonstrate how ready-made, interactive instructional materials and tools for enhancing existing lessons can help teachers differentiate efficiently without sacrificing rigor or time.
April 22, 2026
Operations Leadership Workshop
This one-day workshop, designed for COOs, Directors of Operations, Project Managers, Office Managers, and anyone supporting school operations, will immerse participants in best practices for creating and implementing standard operating procedures. High-performing schools are almost all operationally excellent. However, leaders are rarely trained in the skills needed to balance enrolling students, running food service and transportation, maintaining facilities, overseeing information technology, and managing so many other operational responsibilities.
May 1 – 2, 2026
2026 Florida Summit of Classical Education
The Florida Classical Education Summit is a premier gathering uniting K-12 and higher education leaders to advance classical education from kindergarten through graduate school.
June 9 –11, 2026
Leading for Learning: The Power of Studying Student Work Instructional Leadership Workshop (Miami)
This three-day workshop, designed for principals, deans of instruction/curriculum, and instructional coaches, will immerse participants in a coaching model that ensures student learning lives at the forefront of instructional coaching and decision making.
June 16 – June 18, 2026
Leading for Learning: The Power of Studying Student Work Instructional Leadership Workshop (Orlando)
This three-day workshop, designed for principals, deans of instruction/curriculum, and instructional coaches, will immerse participants in a coaching model that ensures student learning lives at the forefront of instructional coaching and decision making.
July 28, 2026
Foundations of Classroom Management and Engagement with Teach Like a Champion Workshop
This practice-intensive workshop will focus on high-impact behavioral and engagement techniques that enable joy and academic achievement.
July 29 – 30, 2026
Science of Deeper Learning: Checking for Understanding with Teach Like A Champion Workshop
Teach Like a Champion will offer two sessions across three workshop days running from Tuesday, July 28 to Thursday, July 30. Participants can attend one or both sessions. The Wednesday and Thursday Workshops will focus on instructional best practice, with more coming as the event approaches.
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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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