Florida legislature sends universal school choice bill to DeSantis’s desk

A universal school choice bill is headed to the desk of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) after the state senate passed the legislation on a 26-12vote Thursday.

Florida will become the fifth state this year to pass a common school choice system after matching bills were passed in Utah, Iowa, and Arkansas once the president’s signature is attached to the policy.

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Families will be able to use state funds to pay for private school tuition, home tutoring, and other school costs thanks to the legislation, which expands an existing school choice program to all K – 12 students. In the parliamentary session, the proposal had been designated as HB 1, denoting its top priority. The bill was approved by the state House last year with an 83 to 27 voting.

According to Florida House Speaker Paul Renner,” The Florida design takes into account the distinctive learning needs of every child to provide education by empowering parents and students to find the best way to accomplish their education goals, regardless of zip code, race, or income.”

The bill’s passage was praised by proponents of liberal education choice, who claimed it more solidified Florida as a regional leader in education freedom.

” Gov. In a statement, Heritage Foundation degree experts Lindsey Burke and Jason Bedrick praised Ron DeSantis, congressional figures like House Speaker Paul Renner and Senate President Kathleen Passidomo for advancing measures that prioritize students and families. Florida will likely maintain its position as one of the best states in the country for education freedom by extending the state’s innovative education savings account policy to all K – 12 students.

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The Florida Education Association, which claimed that the proposal would” clear billions of taxpayer dollars to unaccountable, personal corporate-run schools— at the expense of the community public schools that serve most of our children ,” has consistently opposed it.

Andrew Spar, chairman of the Florida Education Association, stated earlier this month that lawmakers must support the public school that the majority of families choose. ” Public schools that are fully funded and staffed should be able to provide all Florida’s kids with the degree they require.” This proposal will make life more difficult for many children. Less teachers and staff will be available to complete their daily requirements, and their schools will have fewer resources.