Lee school board reps weigh in on ‘school choice’ legislation
Lee County School Board reps are weighing the pros and the potential impacts of House Bill 1, state legislation that expands school choice options to all students, while eliminating current enrollment caps and financial eligibility restrictions.
The “funding follows students” legislation, which provides for universal school vouchers, was signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis this week. Nearly every student in the state, whether currently attending public, private or home schooled, will be eligible to apply for a voucher.
From an individual, parent perspective, Lee County School Board member Sam Fisher, said he is thankful for what the governor and state legislature has done with HB 1.
“Choice is very important. Me as a parent, I understand how important it is to make educational decisions for my kids,” Fisher said. “I can say individually that we have a really great school district here. I continue to believe that many families will continue to choose the Lee County School District.”
He said there are choices within the district from public, to charter schools, private or homeschool, which provides more power for parents to choose what best suites their children.
School board member Debbie Jordan also said she understands the premise. She does, though, have some concerns about the impact on public school districts’ already strained budgets.
“I understand that they want parents to have rights. I believe parents always have rights,” Jordan said. “As a parent and as a grandparent I have never lost my rights. Your rights are always there.”
Jordan’s concern lies in protecting public schools and being financially sound so as to provide the best education for students.
The school board traveled to Tallahassee to hear what transpired with HB 1. The questions asked regarding money — where it will come from and what happens if there is a shortfall in the district’s budget — was never really answered as the presenter felt like there was not going to be an issue, she said.
“The districts are going to have to figure it out. I don’t know how you would guestimate that,” Jordan said.
She pointed out that the district already has a choice system in place.
“We are a choice district,” she said. “That is something you already have as a parent, to decide what is best for your child.”
DeSantis signed HB1 in Miami on March 27, hailing the legislation he says puts parents in control of their child’s education.
“Florida is No. 1 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,” the governor said. “When you combine private scholarships, charter schools, and district choice programs, Florida already has 1.3 million students attending a school of their choosing. These programs have been instrumental in elevating student achievement over the past 20 years.”
“This legislation is a transformational opportunity to make it clear that the money follows the child, and parents have a right to guide their child’s education as they see fit,” said state Sen. Corey Simon, R-District 3. “We recognize that parents are a child’s first and best teachers. A street address or level of income should never replace the vital and irreplaceable role of a parent to decide what academic experience best fits the needs of their child. This bill is about access and opportunity for all students and every family in our state. I am thankful and blessed that my mother worked so hard and made many sacrifices to make certain I had the opportunity to attend a good school. Not all students are so lucky, but that changes today, and it changes because here in the free state of Florida, with the visionary leadership of Gov. DeSantis, we are going to stop funding systems and start funding students.”
According to an analysis by the Florida Policy Institute and the Education Law Center, this school year more that $1.3 billion public school dollars were diverted to private schools under current programs. HB1 projects an annual program cost in excess of $4 billion in funds that would have gone to public school districts throughout the state.
In regards to current programs, the bill eliminates a number of things, such as the existing financial eligibility restrictions, enabling students who are eligible to enroll in K-12 through school choice options.
Complications lie with the per student allotment following a student via a voucher that can be used to pay for, or partially pay for, their alternative education of choice.
For example, if the child currently attends a public school, the public school allotment could become a voucher that could be used to attend a private school.
Jordan questioned what happens budgetwise if a student is already in a private schoo with no allocation to “follow” them.
“That money now will be coming out of the district,” she said. “There are certain quarters that they pay out. If your child is going to a private school and then tomorrow you decide you want them back at the public school, that money does not come back to us. We are responsible for educating and everything they need without having those funds.”
Jordan also talked about the “$8,000 coupon,” which would apply to tuition to an alternative school which a parent might already be paying.
“If I am in a private school, any private school, if the student is worth $8,000, that is their amount per student. That money would be an $8,000 coupon. Why would people not take that coupon and put that towards the fee of the school and pay the difference?” she asked.
She asked how accountability was going to be had if all these vouchers given are “following students.”
“Is it going to be the same for private, homeschool, charter schools, as they are in the education of public schools?” Jordan asked.
“How are we going to figure out the budget?” Jordan continued. “They (district staff) are trying to figure out what the effects are going to be.”
HB 1 will continue to prioritize awards to students with lower household incomes, those that do not exceed 185 percent of the federal poverty level and will incorporate “a second priority to award scholarships to students who live in households with incomes between 185 and 400 percent of the federal poverty level.”
The annual scholarship will also increase for the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities from 1 to 3 percent.
An online option will be developed so parents can choose among education options.
HB1 eliminates the current enrollment cap, as well as the exception to the maximum number of students participating in FES-EO. There will be a cap of 20,000 new scholarships for 2023-2024 for students who are not full-time enrolled in public, private, or are not Home Education Program students. There is a cap of 40,000 new scholarships every year thereafter.
The bill had a few good additions, according to Jordan.
One will help the teaching profession by allowing general education requirements to be waived for teachers with three years in the classroom with effective or highly effective ratings for three consecutive years.
There is also an expansion of the length of temporary teaching certificates from three to five years, which is something the district has been fighting for with their legislative priorities for years. Jordan said that is huge, as the requirements will be waived for classroom teaching, allowing teachers to stay in the classroom and teach.
To reach MEGHAN BRADBURY, please email news@breezenewspapers.com