Florida charter and school choice summit hits record attendance

A charter school and school choice conference hosted by the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) set a new attendance record, welcoming 1,300 attendees and exhibitors.

The Florida Charter School Conference and School Choice Summit has been held annually since the first charter schools opened in the state in 1996. According to its hosts, FDOE’s Office of Independent Education and Parental Choice and the Florida Education Foundation, the conference typically boasts “between 600 and 700 attendees and more than 350 exhibitor representatives.”

“I am proud to welcome a record number of attendees at this year’s Charter School Conference and School Choice Summit,” said Manny Diaz Jr., commissioner of Education for Florida, in an FDOE press release.

“Under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis, Florida is the best state to receive a quality education that fits the needs of each family,” Diaz added. “This conference is yet another example of how we support the continued expansion of school choice in Florida.”

In addition to Diaz, the speaker lineup included other education reform leaders such as Eva Moskowitz, CEO and founder of Success Academy Charter Schools, and Jim Horne, who served as Florida’s first appointed commissioner of education in 2001.  

Breakout sessions offered at the event covered topics ranging from “Building Resiliency in Florida’s Students” to “Charter School Funding Through the Florida Education Finance Program.”  

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration has avidly supported parental rights and educational choice. In 2023, DeSantis signed House Bill 1, establishing universal school choice in the state by ending financial eligibility restrictions for students to access state scholarship programs. 

“This bill signing is yet another example of Florida putting parents and students in the driver’s seat,” stated Tarren Bragdon, president and CEO of the Florida-based Foundation for Government Accountability. “Government should not be a barrier to getting a quality education, and ZIP Codes and income levels shouldn’t determine a student’s ability to learn.” 

Charter school education continues to expand across the state, with FDOE noting 738 charter schools currently exist and are educating more than 405,000 students this academic year.