9 Investigates different standards for public and charter schools in Florida

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Public schools and charter schools are held to different standards in Florida.

Some school districts told Eyewitness News that state and local building codes, are putting them at a disadvantage.

A spokesperson for the Orange County School District told Channel 9's Cierra Putman that they want relief in areas that don't impact school safety.

“Orange County, they're all our children. Whether they're in charter schools or traditional public schools,” said Scott Howat, chief communications officer with the Orange County School District.

Currently charter schools have to follow state building codes, but not the state requirements for educational facilities.

School lawmakers passed a bill in April that allowed schools the ability to request exemptions if they can prove cost savings for some requirements concerning lighting, paved parking lots and covered walkways.

“Is it more expensive to build a traditional charter school compared to a charter school that's an equal size?" Putman asked.

"It is more expensive because of the restrictions,” Howat said.

Howat said one easy example is at the county level and school acreage requirements.

In 2015, there was controversy when a charter school proposed building a middle school on about 6 acres of land in Avalon Park, a fraction of the 25 acres required for traditional public middle schools.

Some of the differences take into account traditional public school buildings are owned by taxpayers, while charter school buildings are owned by a private companies, whether newly built or leased.

Via email and phone conversations, Lynn Norman-Teck, the executive director of Florida Charter School Alliance, told Eyewitness News that the requirements are different but the schools are still safe for kids.

She supports more flexibility for traditional public schools.

“I think the take away is that we're going to continue to work at the state level and the local level to get the flexibility that we need on areas that aren't student life safety issues, (cut out the middle) making use of the best use of the taxpayers dollars,” Howat said.

Cox Media Group