Gov. Ron DeSantis brushed aside concerns over a new Florida law that allows certain charter schools to demand free space in the state’s public schools.

DeSantis, who signed the expansion into law , and Republican lawmakers said having more so-called schools of hope would provide new avenues of success for students failed by traditional public schools.

Democrats and some school district leaders are concerned about provisions of the new law that give schools of hope the ability to demand space to set up their operations in public schools — without having to pay rent or the cost of janitorial, cafeteria and other services.

At a news conference Wednesday in Sarasota, the governor was asked about concerns from Sarasota County school leaders that the schools of hope law he signed would hurt

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