A New York charter network, backed by a billionaire, is moving into five Miami-Dade public high schools — without community input, with a documented history of harming children, and at taxpayer expense.
Scroll to learn moreOn April 23, 2026, the Miami-Dade school board approved an agreement allowing Success Academy — New York City's largest charter school network — to operate classrooms inside five of our public high schools, beginning August 2027.
The board voted unanimously, but the vote was anything but calm. Several board members complained they had barely had time to read the nearly 200-page document placed before them. One member pointedly remarked, "Elections have consequences." Another said, "We will not be treated as bobbleheads."
This arrangement is enabled by Florida's expanded "Schools of Hope" law, which forces districts to provide space, staff, and services to outside charter operators — often at a cost the district cannot recover.
Parents, teachers, union leaders, the NAACP, and community advocates across Miami-Dade did not ask for this. Many never even knew it was coming.
These are the Miami-Dade public high schools where Success Academy is moving in. These are community institutions — built by and for Miami families.
Success Academy has a documented history in New York City — one of lawsuits, federal court judgments, and a pattern of pushing out vulnerable children. This is the network coming to Miami.
In New York, co-location brought overcrowding, conflict, and the closure of schools. Resources shifted away from communities. Parents and teachers who fought back faced an entrenched system backed by powerful money. Miami's communities deserve to know this history before it becomes theirs.
The New York Times exposed that a Success Academy principal in Fort Greene, Brooklyn had created a secret list of 16 students — many with disabilities — targeted for removal from the school.
Five families sued Success Academy in federal court, alleging children as young as 4 were placed on the "got to go" list, subjected to repeated suspensions, and pushed out of school — specifically because of their disabilities.
The State University of New York launched a formal investigation into Success Academy's disciplinary practices after widespread community complaints. Four more families filed a $2 million lawsuit.
A federal lawsuit alleged Success Academy pulled a fourth-grade student with ADHD out of school and dropped him at a local police precinct as part of a campaign to force him out. School officials also called child services on the mother twice — both complaints were ruled unfounded.
Success Academy quietly settled a discrimination lawsuit, paying families $1.1 million plus lawyers' fees — with minimal public acknowledgment.
U.S. District Judge Frederic Block ruled against Success Academy in the "got to go" disability case, ordering the network to pay $2.4 million. The ruling set a precedent on federal disability discrimination law.
Former chess director Jerald Times sued Success Academy for $64 million, alleging the school operated under a "color line" — marginalizing Black educators, holding chess events only in white neighborhoods, and firing him for speaking out.
"It's called co-location, but in reality, it is the hostile takeover of our traditional public schools."— Jude Bruno, Florida PTA President-Elect
The $700 per-student fee Success Academy pays doesn't begin to cover what Miami-Dade is giving up. Here's what co-location actually costs our schools.
Success Academy gets access to school buildings for renovations starting June 2026 — space that belongs to our students and communities, handed over for free under state law.
Under new state rules, the district must provide custodial, maintenance, food, safety, nursing, and transportation services to Success Academy — at district taxpayer expense.
Every student enrolled in Success Academy takes state per-pupil funding out of the public school budget. As enrollment grows toward 8,000–10,000 students, the financial drain becomes massive.
Decisions about our schools are being made in Tallahassee and New York — not by Miami parents, not by community members. The board was handed a 200-page document and told to vote.
The expanded "Schools of Hope" definition now targets schools that were previously rated A or B — meaning even thriving schools can be forced to share their buildings with outside operators.
Parents, teachers, and union leaders say they received no meaningful input. "This is not just a policy decision. It's a shift in how decisions are being made," said the United Teachers of Dade.
This is not a grassroots effort. It is a top-down expansion funded by billionaires and enabled by state government — with Miami-Dade communities left out of every conversation.
Founder and CEO of Success Academy, which operates 50+ schools in New York City. Appeared alongside DeSantis and Griffin at FIU to announce the Miami expansion.
Founder of Citadel, hedge fund billionaire, and Miami transplant. Pledged $50 million to fund Success Academy's Florida expansion — with no accountability to Miami-Dade voters.
Expanded Florida's Schools of Hope law in September 2025, creating the legal framework that forces districts to accept and service charter co-locations — overriding local school boards.
The contract is a one-year renewable agreement — which means there are opportunities to push back before it renews. Here's how to get involved.
Find your district representative below and send a letter or call their office. Board members need to hear directly from constituents before the contract comes up for renewal.
Miami-Dade school board meetings are open to the public. Sign up for public comment and make your voice heard on the record.
Most Miami families don't know this is happening. Share this page, print flyers for your school's parent night, or bring it up at your PTA meeting.
Miami-Dade activists are pushing for state legislation to block co-location and protect public schools. Contact your state legislators and ask them to support the bill.
The United Teachers of Dade, NAACP Miami-Dade Branch, and Miami-Dade Council of PTA/PTSA are already organized. Connect with groups already fighting for our schools.
Sign up for updates as this situation develops. We'll keep you informed about board meetings, legislative actions, and ways to get involved.
The co-location contract is a one-year renewable agreement. Your board member needs to hear from you before it comes up for renewal. All nine districts are listed below — find yours and make contact.
Not sure which district you're in? Find your district on the MDCPS website →