Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Parents Approve Charter Conversion of Orange Center Elementary, Paving Way for Florida’s First Public‑Private Charter

A Lift OrlandoOCPS partnership promises added services alongside a K‑8 STEM focus as leaders finalize the rollout.

Overview

  • Parents voted 185–32 after a six‑day process to convert the school, a Florida‑required approval that followed October’s school board sign‑off.
  • The campus will operate through a public‑private partnership between Lift Orlando and Orange County Public Schools, a first in the state.
  • An oversight board will be created with parents, community members, Lift Orlando leaders and OCPS representatives to guide the charter.
  • Plans call for a K‑8 model centered on STEM/STEAM with added tutoring, wraparound services, scholarships and summer opportunities.
  • Implementation timelines reported by outlets differ, with a July 2026 K‑8 launch or phased middle‑grade additions starting August 2027, and enrollment is expected to grow with priority for zoned students and siblings.