VIDEO RELEASE: Senator Moody Continues Efforts to Improve Education Options Through Legislation to Expand Funding Flexibility for Florida Charter Schools

RUSKIN, Fla.- Senator Ashley Moody is continuing legislative efforts to improve education options in Florida by expanding funding flexibility for charter schools. At a charter school in the Tampa Bay area today, Senator Moody explained how the Fostering Learning and Excellence in Charter Schools (FLEX) Act will cut red tape around Charter School Program grants to be utilized more effectively based on educational needs, not bureaucratic limitations.

"Florida is a national leader in education and in the school choice movement, because we empower parents and educators to meet the unique needs of every students. The FLEX Act will strengthen these efforts by allowing Florida educators, not Washington bureaucrats, decide how best to use federal grants." said Senator Ashley Moody.

BACKGROUND:

• The FLEX Act provides greater flexibility in how charter schools can spend grant funding.
• Generally, federal charter school funds are limited to the startup costs of preparing and opening new charter schools. This bill would allow charter schools to spend grant money on other areas of need to better meet the needs of students.
• Enhanced flexibility from the FLEX Act will:

• Free up funding for student-centered programming that responds to the unique needs of each community;
• Ensure more freedom to use funding to repair or upgrade essential infrastructure;
• Create a greater ability to move funds between subprograms to meet the changing needs of schools;
• Free up funding for expansions of curricular offerings to help prepare students pursuing college and in-demand careers; and more.

• Senator Moody has also fought to strengthen Florida's education system through co-sponsoring the Educational Choice for Children Act to allow parents to choose the best school for their children.
• Another one of Senator Moody's efforts includes introducing the Home School Graduation Recognition Act to fight for home-schooled students to be officially recognized as graduates.

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