We Won on June 24th
A Victory for All Charter Students
Manatee Charter Schools: Every Child,
Every Family
On June 24, 2025, the Manatee County School Board voted to include charter school students in the ½-Penny Sales Tax funding—a decision that marks a historic win for equity, fairness, and the future of public education in our community. While is is not at the level we had hoped it does create a path toward equity. Click here to see the Action Item.
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After months of advocacy, hundreds of testimonies, and over 2,200 petition signatures, the Board voted to right a wrong that had excluded charter students from millions in critical capital funding since 2016. This decision ensures that charter students—who make up nearly 1 in 5 public school students in the county—will now receive their fair share.
What This Means:
✅ Charter students will now benefit from the same capital improvements as traditional schools.
✅ Our schools have the funds to invest and update our facilities.
✅ Voter intent from the original ballot—supporting all public school students—is finally being honored.
This Victory Belongs to You
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This win wouldn’t have happened without the students, parents, educators, and community leaders who showed up, spoke out, and stood united. Together, we proved what’s possible when public education truly includes every child.
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"When voters said YES, they meant ALL kids."
— June 24, 2025
The Manatee County
Charter Community
We may not be a formal organization—but we are a movement. Our community grew out of a simple, powerful idea: that every child deserves access to a high-quality public education, that our children have the right to benefit from our tax dollars and every parent deserves the freedom to choose the best path for their child. Our shared efforts led to a major victory on June 24th, but that unity must continue. Across Florida, there are still efforts to weaken parent choice and marginalize charter schools. By standing together—as families, educators, and supporters—we can protect fairness, preserve opportunity, and ensure that charter students in Manatee County are never left behind again.
What's Next: Protect What We’ve Built — Demand a Superintendent Who Stands for All Students
The 19th Quality for the new Superintendent
After strong community advocacy, the School Board officially added a 19th qualification for the next Superintendent of Manatee County:
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“Recognizes the importance of parent choice and is committed to collaborating with all public schools, including charter schools, to support student success.”
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This is a major step forward—but now we must make sure that commitment is real.
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“Charter students are public school students, too. We need a leader who understands this and will ensure equitable opportunities for all.”
Make sure the Board remembers Charter students when looking for a new Superintendent
Make your voice be heard!
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Join Our Community (click here)
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Email the Board Members (sample email script)
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Call the Board Members at (941) 708-8770 x41155​
Interim Superintendent - Kevin Chapman
District 1 - Heather Felton
District 2 - Cindy Spray (Vice-Chair)
District 3 - Charlie Kennedy
District 4 - Chad Choate (Chair)
District 5 - Richard Tatem
1 out of 5 parents in Manatee County
choose a Charter School!
Charter School students by Board Member
Supporting Fair Funding for All
This map highlights each Manatee County School Board district, showing both the board representative and the number of charter school students they serve. It illustrates how parental choice reaches across the entire county and reinforces why these students deserve their fair share of funding.
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