In the Public Interest published this mini video on the costs to neighborhood schools when charters drain available funds. This video was done in California which leads the nation in the number of charters. The problems are like those in Florida. Take a minute and watch here.
https://www.inthepublicinterest.org/report-the-cost-of-charter-schools-for-public-school-districts/\
Gordon Lafer economist and professor at University of Oregon, author of “One Percent Solution”, recently compiled a first of its kind analysis. This report reveals that neighborhood public school students in three California school districts are bearing the costs of unchecked expansion of privately managed charter schools. He demonstrates that charters diverted tens of millions of dollars from traditional public schools in 3 urban districts in California
When school districts cut their budgets because of charter schools, they must lay off teachers and cut programs that affect the education of the vast majority of student. This intensifies fiscal pressure to cut services, like counseling, libraries and special education.
I hope the Palm Beach County School Board would take a page out of this report and research how great the costs are to the district and to what extent charter schools are to blame. Their concern to date in law suits restricting charter expansion has been that charters lacking innovation should not be allowed. When the elephant in the room is that the growth of charter schools presents financial challenges and how great is the cost to the district.
Check the repaired link to the video on this topic in the blog. They interview people in Oakland, California.