Procedures for Parents to Notify Charter School of Concerns Relating to Parental Rights in Education

    • Parents or guardians have a right to raise concerns regarding a charter school’s compliance with HB 1557 - Parental Rights in Education (2022). The following is a summary of the concerns that may be raised under the Parental Rights in Education (F.S. 1001.42 (8)(c)), but the entire bill can be found at: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2022/1557/BillText/er/PDF 

     

      • The required notice regarding a change in the student's services or monitoring related to the student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being and the charter school's ability to provide a safe and supportive learning environment for the student. 
      • The requirement for charter school personnel to encourage a student to discuss issues related to their well-being with their parent(s). 
      • The prohibition against charter school personnel prohibiting or discouraging parental notification of and involvement in critical decisions affecting a student's mental, emotional, or physical health or well-being. 
      • The prohibition of classroom instruction by charter school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade, or in other grades in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate, in accordance with State standards. 
      • The requirement that student support services training adhere to student services guidelines, standards, and frameworks established by the Florida Department of Education. 
      • The requirement that, at the beginning of each school year, the charter school notify parents of each healthcare service offered at their child's school and of the option to withhold consent or decline any specific service. 
      • The requirement that the charter school provide a copy of a well-being questionnaire or health screening form to the parent and obtain the permission of the parent before administering the questionnaire or health screening form to a student in kindergarten through grade 3. 
    • On October 19, 2022, the State Board of Education adopted Rule 6A-6.0791, addressing the application of HB 1557 to all charter schools. The purpose of Rule 6A-6.0791 is to provide information to a parent or guardian of a student enrolled in a charter school about the process for resolving a complaint regarding any of the above concerns.

     

    Steps for Raising and Responding to a Parent Concern 

    Step One. Pursuant to Rule 6A-6.0791, charter schools must have their own board-adopted procedures for notifying a parent or guardian of their ability to seek relief from the charter school principal or designee for a concern about any of the issues listed above.  

    Each charter school’s website and contact information can be found at: https://www.pcsb.org/Page/329

    A charter school principal or designee will respond and attempt to resolve the concern within seven (7) days of receipt of the notification.  

    Step Two. If a parent or guardian believes the concern is not resolved by the charter school’s principal or designee, they may then notify the School District in writing, describing the nature of the concern and the reason the charter school principal’s proposed resolution failed to address the concern.  This notification should be made using the following. Parent Concern Link (Step Two). Within thirty (30) days after receipt of the notification, the District will either notify the charter school of its resolution of the concern or provide a statement of the reasons for not resolving the concern.  

    Step Three. If a parent or guardian’s concern is not resolved by the charter school nor the District, they may submit a form to the Florida Department of Education requesting the appointment of a Special Magistrate. If the Florida Department of Education grants the request, a Special Magistrate will hold a hearing and provide a recommended decision to the State Board of Education regarding the concern between a parent or guardian and the District. The State Board of Education will either approve or reject the recommended decision within 30 days. Further information regarding this process can be found at:  https://www.fldoe.org/schools/k-12-public-schools/special-magis.stml