Gov. Ron DeSantis defended the Schools of Hope initiative, saying the program is designed to attract charter operators to underperforming areas and that public safety functions such as hurricane evacuation centers will not be lost if a school building hosts a charter operator.

DeSantis described Schools of Hope as a way to repurpose excess space and bring operators such as Success Academy to Florida. "When we started talking to them about coming, their view is, you know, we're going where people say it can't be done," DeSantis said. He added that charter operators "have to convince parents" to enroll children and said the state has more school-choice options than any other state.

When asked about concerns that converting public schools to charter operators might eliminate sites used as hurricane evacuation centers, DeSantis replied, "No. No. No. So listen. When you're in Florida, you're on the team when it comes to the hurricane stuff. Right? Like, we're just not gonna like like, you will be on the team. That's not gonna be an issue." He said local emergency management, law enforcement and school officials coordinate to ensure services continue.

DeSantis cited broad school-choice statistics in the state: more than 500,000 students on private scholarship programs, more than 400,000 students in charter schools and extensive intra-district choice options. He said charter students are disproportionately low-income compared with the state average and said the charter sector's performance would rank among the top U.S. states if it were a standalone system.

No policy change or formal vote was announced at the event. DeSantis said Success Academy plans to begin in Miami with hopes to expand to other parts of Florida.