Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed legislation that expands school choice for students, which is something the Lone Star State also has on the docket.
According to the governor’s website, House Bill 1 eliminates financial eligibility restrictions and the current enrollment cap of school choice options. The state has 1.3 million students who use school choice already. This bill requires the development of an online portal showing parents the options for available students. It also removes restrictions and requirements to become a teacher.
“Florida is number one when it comes to education freedom and education choice, and today’s bill signing represents the largest expansion of education choice in the history of these United States. When you combine private scholarships, charter schools, and district choice programs, Florida already has 1.3 million students attending a school of their choosing,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “These programs have been instrumental in elevating student achievement over the past twenty years. I am grateful to the Florida Legislature, Speaker Renner, and President Passidomo for prioritizing this legislation and presenting it to me at the beginning of this year’s legislative session.”
According to a report by The 74, Ron Matus, who is the director of policy and public affairs for Step Up for Students, says that school choice can work in rural America. He uses Florida as a prime example. He points out that while rural areas have unique challenges like limited transportation and a lack of educational resources, the school choice policies can help with these challenges. He also notes that while school choice is strong in Florida, it has not affected enrollment in public schools. It has also brought more private schools to the rural areas, he said.
A Dallas News report states that an education saving account bill was also introduced in the Texas Senate, which if passed would create education savings account for up to $8,000 for families to use for aspects like private school tuition, books, tutoring, transportation, uniforms and more. The purchases would be overseen by the comptroller’s office. Families will not get money up front with the bill, but funds can be used for things like private schools. It also helps rural Texans ensure that school districts are not defunded, the report said.
According to Fox 4 News, the bill is highly controversial as hundreds of people have signed up to testify both for and against it. It is expected to be voted on in the next committee meeting, and if passed it will go to the Senate for a vote.
Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) are one of the many alternatives parents have to public schools, according to the Texas Scorecard. They allow people to use financial assistance for qualifying educational expenses. Other school choice alternatives include private schooling, homeschooling and charter schooling, but they do not allow parents to receive benefits and funds for students’ education.