Seminole County schools targeted for private Schools of Hope, including Oviedo and Winter Springs 

BridgePrep Academy has put Seminole County Public Schools on notice that it wants to co-locate in 11 SCPS schools as part of a new law expanding charter schools inside of existing public schools buildings – including two in Oviedo and one in Winter Springs. 

In 2025, the Florida Legislature passed a bill expanding what’s known as the Schools of Hope program. Originally, this allowed charter schools to operate in “persistently low-performing schools.” 

The new law allows Schools of Hope to operate charter schools inside public schools where space isn’t being used, as long as there is what’s known as a Florida Opportunity Zone nearby. 

“This letter serves as BridgePrep Academy, Inc.’s formal School of Hope Building Notice, identifying the facilities we intend to pursue for operation as a School of Hope beginning in the 2026–2027 school year,” wrote Thomas Sutterfield, the Governing Board Chair of BridgePrep Academy, Inc. in a letter you can read below. “BridgePrep Academy, Inc. has demonstrated a consistent record of academic success and financial stability. We are presently awaiting administrative review by the Florida Department of Education.”

The letter mirrors at least 690 letters sent across the state by three providers, according to tracking from the Florida Policy Institute. BridgePrep has sent the most notices in the state, but other operators include Success, KIPP, Mater and Somerset. 

Kristine Kraus, a member of Seminole County Public School Board, said she hopes that the private, non-profit charter schools aren’t successful in their request to take over public school space in Seminole County. She said she hopes the district “will do everything in our power to prevent them from coming in.”

“We’re giving them a spot rent free, where they can charge tuition and make a profit,” Kraus said. “It’s hard to use our tax dollars for something in education – that’s already sorely lacking in adequate funding – and prop up a for-profit business.”

Multiple requests to staff members at BridgePrep for comment were not returned before deadline.

The schools targeted in the letter are: 

School name	School Available Capacity	BridgePrep’s projected enrollment
Stenstrom Elementary School in Oviedo	306	280
Indian Trails Middle School in Winter Springs	307	280
Lawton Elementary School in Oviedo	309	287
Journeys Academy in Sanford	309	285
Midway Elementary School in Sanford	329	305
Markham Woods Middle School in Lake Mary	367	340
Altamonte Elementary School in Altamonte Springs	378	355
Greenwood Lakes Middle School in Lake Mary	403	380
South Seminole Middle School in Casselberry	422	395
Millenium Middle School in Sanford	448	425
Teague Middle School in Altamonte Springs	499	475

Want to contact your elected leaders and weigh in on this topic? Find their contact information here. Are you a parent in one of the schools that could be impacted? Tell Oviedo Community News your thoughts here. 

Conor Munro is a teacher at Lake Brantley High School and a teacher’s union representative. He said Seminole County should brace itself for what’s happening with charter schools in Orange County next door. 

“I think we have something special in Seminole County with our public schools and we ought to protect it,” Munro said. “We all see what’s happening in Orange County next door with the encroachment of charter schools, and I don’t think we’re immune. So to that end, one thing I think we can do to ensure that we have our public schools protected is to make sure our facilities are world class.”

Florida Sen. Darryl Rouson has filed a bill to change the Schools of Hope language. The language adding co-location in public schools came late in the 2025 Florida session. 

The Seminole County League of Women Voters has put out a pamphlet explaining the differences between public schools, charter schools and private schools. Seminole County League of Women Voters President Cathy Swerdlow said she’s not surprised that there are companies looking to take up space in public schools. 

“God no,” Swerdlow said. “If I had a business and I could get space rent free, wouldn’t I be interested? It certainly would cut down on overhead.”

Swerdlow said she has previously made the decision to send some of her children to private school. 

“I didn’t expect that the government would assist me in doing that,” Swerdlow said. “It was a choice I was making. It was a private religious school and I was making that choice.”

For now, Kraus said her message to parents is simple. 

“Stay tuned, to stay engaged,” Kraus said. “Just like we lobbied for funding of AP and IB programs, this will be another instance when we need our public school parents to be our allies and help us advocate.”

Abe Aboraya is a Report for America corps member.

Editor’s note: Kristine Kraus, a member of Seminole County Public School Board, after publication clarified that she hopes that the private, non-profit charter schools aren’t successful in their request to “take over public school space” in Seminole County. She added that she has no issues with charter schools that go through the normal process and operate in their own space.