The Florida Department of Education informed the Broward County School District it is opening an investigation into its alleged failure to share revenue with charter schools, REDBROWARD has learned. Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz sent a letter to Broward School Superintendent Peter Licata on Thursday. The beleaguered District is already under investigation for construction issues and other matters.

“It has recently come to my attention that the Broward County School District is not complying with Florida laws requiring it to share revenue collected via a discretionary tax levied…with its charter schools,” Diaz wrote.

Diaz cited several court cases which held the District must share the revenue with charter schools.

Diaz wrote, “It has been alleged that Broward joined Palm Beach and Miami-Dade by instituting a similar tax and, likewise, did not properly share the revenues with its charter schools.” If true, Diaz states the District is “violating Florida law and is subject to disciplinary action under section 1008.32, Florida Statutes (2023).”

Diaz told Licata that Department of Education employees “may soon reach out” for documentation and other relevant information.