UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE IS HERE

dren." He said the law would hand over that public money to "unaccountable, corporate-run private schools."

By Tom St. Myer

One stroke of the pen from Gov. Ron DeSantis potentially opened the floodgates for students to attend private schools in Florida. The governor signed universal school choice into law. The legislation expands the state voucher system to all K-12 students by eliminating income eligibility limits on the taxpayer-funded program.

The voucher amount will be about $8,700 per student, roughly the same school districts receive in unweighted per-student funding from the state. Reaction to the new law splits primarily down party lines. Republicans overwhelmingly approve the measure touting school choice for families. Democrats say the measure is simply a subsidy for the wealthy and will harm public education.

DeSantis addressed their fear at a billsigning ceremony on Monday, March 27, at a Catholic school in Miami. He said, "There will be a preference for low- and middle-income families, but at the end of the day, we fundamentally believe that the money should follow the student. And it should be directed based on what the parent thinks is the most appropriate education program for their child."

DeSantis noted 1.3 million children already receive their education from outside of their assigned public schools. About 5,000 of those children live in Escambia County. Guesses on how the legislation will impact students in Escambia County Public Schools and the 32 private schools in the county depend on whom you ask.

State Rep. Alex Andrade (R-District 2) voted for the bill. He questioned why anyone opposes freedom of choice for where parents send their children to school and improves on a voucher system that is 20-plus years old.

The state first began offering vouchers when Republican Jeb Bush served as governor. Florida joins Arkansas, Iowa and Utah as states that enacted new education savings account programs with universal eligibility. Other states considering educational choice proposals include Georgia, Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas. Overall, 11 states offer ESA programs.

"The government has no business dictating which students go to which school," Andrade said. "It's really up to the parents to decide what's best for their children. Every parent has the ability and resources to make that decision regardless of any other factor."

He continued, "Some school choice options in the past were based on incomes. This is the first time it applies to every family regardless. There should be an investment in each individual student in Florida regardless of where they attend."

Substantial Cash

Tuition costs at a significant number of private schools in the county exceed $8,700, and some already operate at capacity enrollment. Private schools have the power to deny a student enrollment. House bill sponsors rejected a proposed amendment to prohibit schools from discriminating against students.

program will cover money for tuition and fees at an eligible and spend the money until the arship expires when a student graduates high school or turnsalized education program, but any homeschool family that accepts the voucher will be required to meet the funding standards, which include submitting an annual learning plan and meeting state attendance requirements.

An analysis of the bill by the House estimated the cost at over $209 million, and a Senate analysis estimated the figure at $646-plus million. But the independent Florida Policy Institute projected a cost of up to $4 billion.

Teach Florida, a division of Teach Coalition that advocates on behalf of nonpublic schools and parents, estimates about 80% of schools will qualify for the voucher. The measure prevents entrepreneurs from establishing private schools that provide inadequate education so they prosper off the vouchers.

Florida NOW, an organization that promotes feminist ideals, social change and the elimination of discrimination, released a statement that criticized the legislation.

"If a parent or school doesn't want government involvement in how they operate, then they don't have to take these taxpayer dollars," Andrade said. "There has to be an element of accountability, an element of analysis on how this money is being deployed. This is my money as a taxpayer."

Uncertainties

Escambia school board member Patty Hightower cited a potential issue with universal school choice. She said, "If more people use it than that reserve is, that's where the concern comes in."

Hightower neither endorsed nor spoke out against the program. She said there are too many uncertainties at this early stage. She favors financially supporting families who send children ill-equipped for public schools to private institutions. But she said the public schools offer a wealth of opportunities for students.

"I'm optimistic parents will see their schools are doing an excellent job for their children and want them to stay there," Hightower said.

Detractors of universal school choice include Florida Education Association Teachers Union President Andrew Spar. He released a statement that said the legislation "will drain billions of taxpayer dollars away from the neighborhood public schools that nearly 90% of Florida's parents trust to educate their chil -

"There is no separation of Church and State since most vouchers will go to religious schools," Florida NOW President Debbie Deland said. "There is no oversight or accountability planned for the schools taking vouchers."

Deland blamed the governor. "DeSantis is taking racist action and attempting to destroy public schools, a cornerstone of American democracy. He doesn't know the impact because they haven't done their due diligence. Implementing this across the whole of Florida is irresponsible. People of color, LGBTQ and disabled students will be left in public schools without resources."

Andrade countered that opponents are stereotyping the Black population. He said the legislation applies to everyone, no matter their skin color, gender or religious beliefs.

"The racism argument is ridiculous," Andrade said. "The racism argument says that poor students who happen to be Black should be bound to attend the public school that they live closest to. It's a ridiculous premise and one that any Black parent should be able to say it is as well."

EdChoice, a nonprofit organization that campaigns for families to choose the learning environment for their children, released a statement endorsing the legislation. CEO Robert Enlow referenced the previous School Choice bill that DeSantis signed two years ago. That legislation raised income levels to receive vouchers to 375% of the federal poverty level.

"Florida lawmakers show that even states with existing school choice programs in operation shouldn't rest until those opportunities are available for all," Enlow said.

But will those opportunities decimate school districts whose state funding is directly impacted by their student enrollment? That is the question Hightower and fellow school board members hear ad nauseam now that universal school choice is a reality.

"A lot of people see it as the end to everything," Hightower said. "But I have to be optimistic it will help parents be able to choose where they think will be the best benefit for their child." {in}