Polk County Public Schools is facing a significant shift in its educational landscape after two charter school networks formally notified the district of their intent to establish operations within 27 existing public school facilities. The move, enabled by a new state rule, could see charter schools sharing space with traditional public schools as early as the 2026-2027 school year, raising questions about resource allocation and the future of local education.
The notifications come from Miami-based BridgePrep Academy Inc. and Mater Academy Inc., both designated as "Schools of Hope" by the state. This designation grants them the authority to co-locate in any public school facility that is not at full capacity, a significant expansion of a state program that previously focused on underperforming schools.
Key Takeaways
- Two charter school networks, BridgePrep Academy and Mater Academy, have identified 27 Polk County public schools for co-location.
- This action is permitted under a new Florida rule for "Schools of Hope" operators, allowing them to use space in any under-capacity public school.
- BridgePrep Academy aims to begin operations in 20 schools by 2026, projecting an enrollment of 8,175 students.
- Mater Academy targets eight schools for 2027, with one school, Southwest Middle, appearing on both lists.
- The school district has a 20-day window to object based on "material impracticability," or the selection becomes final.
A New Era of School Sharing
The legal foundation for this development is a state rule that took effect on November 11, implementing legislation passed earlier this year. The law, known as SB 2510, broadens the scope of the Schools of Hope program, which was initially designed to offer alternatives in areas with persistently low-performing schools.
Now, any charter operator with the Schools of Hope designation can request space in any public school with available capacity, regardless of that school's academic performance. This change has opened the door for large-scale co-location proposals across the state, with Polk County now at the center of this new policy's implementation.
The two charter networks have submitted formal letters to Polk County Public Schools, outlining their plans in detail. BridgePrep Academy has targeted 20 schools for the 2026-2027 school year, while Mater Academy has its sights set on eight schools for the 2027-2028 school year. The lists include a mix of elementary, middle, and K-8 schools across the county, from Lakeland to Winter Haven and Davenport.
The District's Limited Options
Under the new state rule, the school district's ability to refuse these requests is narrowly defined. Polk County Public Schools has 20 days from receipt of the notification to provide a written objection. However, any objection must be based on a claim of "material impracticability."
If the district cannot prove that sharing the facility is materially impractical, or if it fails to respond within the 20-day period, the charter school's selection is considered final. The district would then be required to provide detailed floor plans and allow the charter operators access for site visits and evaluations.
What is a 'School of Hope'?
The Schools of Hope program was established by the Florida Legislature to encourage high-performing charter school networks to open schools in communities with historically underperforming public schools. Operators with this designation receive state funding and operational flexibility. The recent expansion of the program allows these operators to co-locate in any public school with surplus space, not just those in academically challenged areas.
The Schools in Question
The lists submitted by the charter networks cover a wide geographic and demographic range within Polk County. Southwest Middle School in Lakeland is the only facility to appear on both BridgePrep's and Mater's lists, indicating high demand for space in that area.
BridgePrep Academy's list of 20 schools includes:
- Lakeland: Carlton Palmore Elementary, Combee Elementary, Southwest Elementary, Medulla Elementary, Padgett Elementary, Sykes Elementary, Socrum Elementary, Rochelle School of the Arts, Crystal Lake Middle, and Southwest Middle.
- Davenport: Citrus Ridge: A Civics Academy.
- Dundee: Dundee Ridge Middle.
- Fort Meade: Fort Meade Middle-Senior High.
- Frostproof: Frostproof Middle-Senior High.
- Haines City: Eastside Elementary.
- Poinciana: Laurel Elementary and Palmetto Elementary.
- Winter Haven: South Pointe Elementary, Denison Middle, and Westwood Middle.
Mater Academy's list of eight schools for the following year includes Elbert Elementary in Winter Haven, Frostproof Elementary, Gause Academy of Leadership in Bartow, and Kingsford Elementary in Mulberry, among others.
Projected Enrollment Figures
The proposals include significant student population projections. BridgePrep Academy anticipates a combined enrollment of 8,175 students across its 20 proposed locations. Mater Academy projects its eight schools will serve a combined total of over 4,500 students, with a projection of 1,568 students for Southwest Middle School alone.
Financial and Community Implications
The move has generated considerable debate, with critics raising concerns about the financial impact on traditional public schools. Organizations like SEE Alliance, a progressive nonprofit, have described the strategy as a "coordinated land grab," arguing that it diverts public funds to private companies through management fees and rent.
"These are predatory, profiteering and parasitic operators masquerading as ‘hope,’“ the organization stated, claiming such charters "cannibalize" neighborhood schools rather than building new ones.
The financial aspect is particularly notable for some of the targeted schools. Polk County Public Schools recently invested heavily in capital improvements at two of the schools on Mater's list. The district spent over $55 million on a complete rebuild of Southwest Middle School and approximately $50 million on Elbert Elementary in Winter Haven. These modern, updated facilities are now slated to house a separate, competing educational entity.
Furthermore, the selection of Kingsford Elementary in Mulberry by Mater Academy presents a unique situation. The school was closed by the district in 2021 and its site was transferred in June to the Schools of McKeel Academy, a local charter system, with plans to reopen it as McKeel Academy Mulberry.
As Polk County Public Schools weighs its response, parents, teachers, and community members are left to consider the long-term effects of this new co-location model on their neighborhood schools and the district's future. The district has so far declined to comment on the notifications.
