Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that over 500,000 students are now participating in the state's school choice scholarship program. Additionally, more than 30,000 students have joined the New Worlds Scholarship Accounts Program, and 18,000 are using a transportation stipend established by House Bill 1 (2023).
"Florida is the number one state for education because of our commitment to providing every student with the option that works best for them," said Governor Ron DeSantis. "I am proud that we have enabled over 500,000 students to access a high-quality education that fits their individual needs."
Manny Diaz Jr., Florida Department of Education Commissioner of Education, stated: "Under Governor DeSantis’ leadership, Florida continues to lead the way in providing the best educational opportunities for every student. I am proud to see how many Florida families we are helping through school choice programs."
House Bill 1 was signed into law by Governor DeSantis in 2023. It established universal school choice by removing financial eligibility restrictions and enrollment caps for the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options. The bill also increased annual scholarship cap growth for students with unique abilities and created new opportunities for those not enrolled full-time in public or private schools to join the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program through a parent-directed Personalized Education Program. A transportation stipend was also added to the Florida Empowerment Scholarship Program.
Currently, nearly 1.4 million students are taking advantage of school choice options in Florida. The state's extensive range of programs aims to empower families and children to achieve their educational goals.
For more information about Florida’s school choice programs, visit https://www.fldoe.org/schools/school-choice.