Gov. DeSantis signs bill that expands Florida school voucher program
MIAMI -- Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill into law that will expand the voucher program, making all students in the state eligible to receive taxpayer-backed vouchers.
Speaking during a ceremony at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami, the governor said the expansion as codified in HB 1 will be a boon for public education.
"This bill is a major game changer," DeSantis said before signing the legislation. "It's about results."
But critics of the legislation, introduced and approved by the Republican-controlled state legislature, said it would siphon dollars from public schools and minority communities would be disproportionately affected.
"If he signs, he takes us back to a growing Jim Crow trend that will impact communities of color, LBGTQIA+, low- income families and needs to be stopped!" Debbie Deland, president of Florida Now, said in an emailed statement. "They will move our youth's minds, hearts, and souls in our richly diverse state."
The legislation removes income-eligibility requirements that are part of current voucher programs.
Under the bill, students would be eligible to receive vouchers if they are "a resident of this state" and "eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12" in a public school.
The measure includes a tiered "priority" system for students to receive vouchers. Students whose household incomes are less than 185 percent of the federal poverty level, or roughly $51,000 for a family of four, would get first priority. Next would be students whose family incomes are from 185 percent of the poverty level to 400 percent of the poverty level, which is about $111,000 for a family of four.
House and Senate cost estimates of the bill varied as it moved through the Legislature. The Senate this week released a $2.2 billion total, though that number also includes the costs of students currently receiving vouchers,
The non-profit Florida Policy Institute, which opposes the voucher plan, estimated the measure would cost about $4 billion.
At the news conference, Senate sponsor Corey Simon, R-Tallahassee, praised the bill, saying he has been involved in crafting many pieces of legislation but this one was special.
"None of them mean as much or are as personal as this one," he said.
Miami-Dade Public Schools released the following statement:
"This year Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) celebrates 50 years of proudly giving parents and students a choice in their education. Our first Magnet program began in 1973 with the opening of the Center for the Expressive Arts at Charles Drew Elementary. Today, Miami-Dade County Public School students in all grade levels can enjoy more than 370 Magnet programs and specialized courses with unique thematic strands of study that focus on their interests, talents, and abilities. In late January, Magnet Schools of America (MSA), a national organization representing more than 4,000 magnet schools and programs, recognized Miami-Dade County Public Schools with a total of 78 awards for the 2022-2023 award cycle. Over the past eleven years, M-DCPS has consistently led the nation in MSA awards amassing a total of 529 national recognitions. Miami-Dade County Public Schools is a great example of educational choice. For more information, we invite parents to contact the Office of School Choice and Parental Options at 305-995-1922 or visit the magnet website at www.miamimagnets.org"
Meanwhile, here is Broward School Board's position on the vouchers:
"The School Board of Broward County opposes any expansion of the voucher program funded through the Florida Education Finance Program and believes that all schools that receive taxpayer dollars should have the same accountability measures."
Here's Broward School Board's response to our questions:
Q. We'd like to know how much the district receives in funding from the state per pupil. How much per student?
"As of the Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP) 3rd calculation: $8,200.93 per Unweighted FTE (Full-Time Equivalency."
Q. How much from student enrollment impact the budget?
"Since virtually every component of the education funding formula is affected by changes in student enrollment, an increase or decrease will impact District funding. A key feature of the FEFP is that it bases financial support for education upon the individual student participating in a particular educational program – rather than upon the number of teachers or classrooms."
Q. Would the loss of student enrollment take away funds from the district?
"See the answer above."