Florida has 3 educational choice programs.
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Florida’s Gardiner Scholarship Program allows students with special needs an opportunity to receive an education savings account (ESA) funded by the state and administered by an approved Scholarship Funding Organization. Parents can use the funds to pay for a variety of educational services, including private school tuition, tutoring, online education, home education, curriculum, therapy, postsecondary educational institutions in Florida and other defined educational services.
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This tax-credit scholarship program was enacted and launched in 2001 to serve students from low-income households. Of America’s school choice programs, the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program is one of the largest in terms of student participation. Learn more about it on this page, including eligibility, funding, regulations, legal history and more.
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Florida’s John M. McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program was enacted and launched in 1999, making it the nation’s first school voucher program for students with special needs. The Florida legislature expanded the program in 2000. Learn more about the most up-to-date program details on this page, including eligibility, funding, regulations, legal history and more.
BLOG POST
Former Teachers’ Union Leader Says Engaging Unions Could Accelerate Educational Choice
Social movements such as women’s suffrage, Black civil rights, and parental choice in education involve the redistribution of social, political, and economic power. Because few groups in control of that power at the time are enlightened enough to share it voluntarily, these power struggles are usually contentious—but they don’t have to be. Although school choice […]
RESEARCH REPORT
2015 Schooling in America Survey
The purpose of this annual survey developed and reported by the Friedman Foundation and our partner, Braun Research, Inc., is to measure public opinion on, and in some cases awareness or knowledge of, a range of K–12 education topics and reforms. We report response levels, differences (“margins”), and intensities for the country and a range of demographic groups. We also track response changes over time when possible.
VIDEO
How Do ESAs Work?
What is an education savings account (ESA), and how does it work? How are these programs funded? And how can parents use ESA debit cards to customize a child’s education? This video answers all these questions in more in under a minute. Watch for helpful, simple information on what ESAs are all about.