In 1999, then Florida Governor Jeb Bush implemented what he called his “A+ Accountability Program,” which coupled school choice and education accountability.
From 2011-2019 Florida Governor Rick Scott supported the expansion of charter schools and scholarship programs that would allow students to attend private schools.
But since Governor DeSantis has been at the helm, education freedom has increased on steroids with a record number of students attending a school of their choice.
But other areas under public education have seen and will see more changes.
Suzanne Gallagher, the Executive Director of Parents’ Rights In Education, says public education is undergoing a quiet but undeniable transformation.
“What was once a system largely controlled by bureaucracies, consultants, and administrators is now being reshaped by a force long sidelined: parents,” said Gallagher. Parents are demanding something both simple and profound: transparency, accountability, and a meaningful role in decisions affecting their children,” said Gallagher.
Much of this stemmed from the school closures during Covid and watching some Florida school districts in 2022 try to implement gender-neutral policies without notifying parents.
Gallagher says more parents are becoming active in organizing and testifying in front of local school board meetings
OTHER CHANGES INCLUDE SCHOOL CLOSINGS
Enrollment in public schools has been on the decline in Florida with parents choosing alternatives.
Whether it’s in North Florida in Duval County to Broward County in Soth Florida, more school districts are shutting down and consolidation schools.
ANOTHER CHANGE IS AI IN THE CLASSROOM
Gallagher says AI is entering classrooms faster than public understanding.
Gallagher says there are problems associated with AI.
“It is shaping lesson plans, grading systems, and student data platforms. In some cases, it is redefining how instructional time is structured. Yet in many districts, parents are not being informed—let alone asked for consent,” she said.
Questions al remain as, who decides how these tools are used? Who evaluates their impact on children and who is accountable when something goes wrong?
“Public education will not be fixed by more spending. It will not be restored through new programs layered onto a broken system. It will be restored through accountability and accountability begins with parents, Gallagher said.
