Tampa Charter School Approval and Revocation - City Law

Education Florida 3 Minutes Read ยท published February 09, 2026 Flag of Florida

The process that governs charter school approval and revocation in Tampa, Florida is driven by state law and the local school district; the City of Tampa itself does not authorize or revoke public charter schools. For authorization, oversight, renewal, and revocation you must work with the School District of Hillsborough County and follow Florida statutory rules for charter schools.[3][2]

Overview of Authority and Scope

Tampa city government maintains the municipal charter and local land-use controls, but charter school authorization, renewal, accountability, and revocation are governed by the School District of Hillsborough County and Florida Statute 1002.33. If your matter involves site approval, zoning, building permits, or leases on city property you will also coordinate with Tampa Planning and Development or the City Clerk for leases and agreements.[1]

The City of Tampa does not serve as an authorizer for public charter schools.

Penalties & Enforcement

Primary enforcement and remedy for charter approval, renewal, or revocation is exercised by the charter authorizer (typically the School Board of Hillsborough County) under Florida Statute 1002.33. Monetary fines for authorizer actions are not generally specified on the cited authorizer or statute pages; specific remedies focus on corrective action, nonrenewal, or revocation of the charter and related compliance orders.[2]

  • Enforcer: School District of Hillsborough County Charter Office and the Hillsborough County School Board (authorizer).
  • Common sanctions: corrective action plans, conditional renewals, nonrenewal, revocation of charter, and requirement to remediate fiscal or operational deficiencies (see statute for grounds).
  • Appeals: decisions by the authorizer may be subject to administrative review and judicial review as provided by Florida law; exact time limits for appeals are set by statute or district procedures and are not specified on the cited pages.
  • Fines/fees: monetary fines for charter authorizer enforcement are not specified on the cited statute or district pages.
If you receive a notice of noncompliance from the authorizer, act quickly to request required hearings and document remediation steps.

Applications & Forms

The School District of Hillsborough County publishes charter petition guidance and application materials, including submission instructions and contacts for the Charter Office; specific application packet names, fees, and deadlines are found on the district's charter page or in the packet itself and may vary by year.[3]

  • Typical item: charter petition or application packet (name and filing details stated on the district page).
  • Submission: follow district instructions for electronic or paper filing; contact the Charter Office for exact forms and deadlines.

How the Process Works (Key Steps)

Below is a high-level summary of the entities and sequence: the applicant prepares a petition following Florida statute and district guidance; the district conducts review, public hearings, and performance/fiscal review; the authorizer approves, conditions, denies, renews, or revokes the charter according to statutory grounds and district policy.[2]

Public hearings and written findings are central to renewal and revocation decisions.

FAQ

Who authorizes charter schools serving Tampa residents?
The School District of Hillsborough County is the primary authorizer for charter schools in Tampa; state law (Florida Statute 1002.33) governs the standards and statutory procedures.[3][2]
Can the City of Tampa revoke or approve a charter school?
No. The City of Tampa does not authorize charter schools; the city handles land-use, building permits, and leases which may be required for school facilities but does not grant or revoke charters.[1]
Where do I find the charter application and deadlines?
Contact the School District of Hillsborough County Charter Office and consult the district's charter webpage for the current petition packet and submission deadlines.[3]

How-To

  1. Review Florida Statute 1002.33 and the Hillsborough County charter petition guidance.
  2. Download the district's current charter petition packet and template from the Charter Office page.
  3. Prepare required documentation: governance, educational program, budgets, and fiscal controls following the packet checklist.
  4. Submit the petition by the district deadline and attend required public hearings or interviews.
  5. If the district issues a notice of deficiency or a proposed revocation, request hearings, file responses, and follow appeal instructions in the district notice and statute.

Key Takeaways

  • City of Tampa handles permits and property matters; it does not authorize or revoke charters.
  • Charter authorization, renewal, and revocation are governed by the School District of Hillsborough County and Florida Statute 1002.33.

Help and Support / Resources

  1. [1] City of Tampa - Charter and Municipal Code
  2. [2] Florida Statutes, Section 1002.33 - Charter Schools
  3. [3] School District of Hillsborough County - Charter Schools

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