In a move to revolutionize the education landscape, last year, seven states enacted new school choice programs, while an additional 10 states expanded programs, earning 2023 the moniker “the Year of School Choice.”
In Florida, students can participate in four school choice programs—two Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), a tax credit scholarship program and a Hope Scholarship Program to help bullied students.
Families are enrolling in these programs in droves. An EdChoice report revealed enrollment in the expanded Family Empowerment Scholarship Program increased 30 percent since the last school year, with over 85,000 students enrolled in the 2023-24 school year.
Florida families can use their ESA dollars to pay for pre-approved private school tuition, homeschooling materials, or other school-related costs. The ESA program enables many Florida students with the opportunity to receive an education tailored to their individual needs, that is unless their education choice happens to be a full-time online private school. And in that case, well, they are on their own.
In states like Iowa, South Carolina, and Arizona, scholarship programs have been instrumental in making full-time online private school options accessible to students. The programs make quality education a reality for families that might otherwise face financial barriers or whose children have educational or physical health needs that make an in-person learning experience off-limits.
However, Florida has yet to join the ranks of states embracing this educational shift. Despite the increasing popularity of online learning and the success of full-time online public schools in the state, including through the state’s own Florida Virtual School, Florida’s education scholarship programs have not extended to support full-time enrollment in online private schools.
Florida’s decision to exclude online private schools from scholarship programs has sparked debate among education experts and parents. Some argue that the state’s commitment to school choice should extend to online private education, providing families with a broader array of options to meet their children’s unique needs.
Proponents of online private education emphasize the importance of allowing students to access high-quality curriculum and specialized programs that may not be available in traditional public schools. They believe that online private schools can cater to students with specific interests, learning styles, or academic needs, providing a more tailored and personalized educational experience.
National school choice advocates are paying attention, too.
In March, Heritage Foundation’s Jason Bedrick wrote about the issue in the Daily Signal saying it unnecessarily restricts parental choice, however “…policymakers could fix these issues easily by inserting language into the bill clarifying that, notwithstanding any other provision in Florida statute, families using education savings accounts may choose virtual learning.” He wrote about the issue again earlier this month, saying, “If Florida wants to continue to be a leader in education, it must allow for greater innovation in how education is delivered.” The American Legislative Exchange Council echoed Mr. Bedrick when it tweeted on January 16 “Florida families deserve the freedom to unleash their Empowerment Scholarship Accounts! Amend HB1403 to let students learn in full-time private & religious virtual schools.”
As the debate continues in Tallahassee, will lawmakers heed the warning of national advocates and fix this exclusion for families?
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