The State Board of Education convened in Orlando, Florida, on November 20, 2024, coinciding with the 2024 Charter School Conference and School Choice Summit. This event attracted over 1,300 participants. During the meeting, Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. introduced Daniel Foganholi as a new member of the State Board of Education. Foganholi previously served on the Broward County School Board for two years.
Commissioner Diaz highlighted Florida's educational achievements by stating: "Florida is ranked number one for education by U.S. News and World Report and number one for Education Freedom by the Heritage Foundation because of our commitment to providing a quality education for each individual student, and school choice and charter schools are essential components of our education system." He added his pride in living in a state that sets an example nationwide and offers opportunities for student success.
A key development from the meeting was the approval of a rule amendment aimed at supporting charter school operators involved in turning around struggling schools within districts. This change will grant these operators increased access to information and additional time during transitions from district-managed to charter-operated schools. The superintendents from Gadsden and Leon County Public Schools also presented updates on their turnaround plans.
The board took further steps to ensure school safety compliance by approving rule amendments that establish monitoring procedures for school districts and public schools. These rules include mandatory training availability for parents and guardians on FortifyFL, emphasizing the repercussions of making threats or false reports.
Additionally, amendments were approved to redefine eligibility criteria and standards for apprenticeship programs. Notably, these changes allow faith-based organizations to participate as sponsors.