TALLAHASSEE (SNN TV) – The Republican-led effort to expand Florida’s voucher program could steer $2.4 billion from public schools.
This comes after the proposed program easily cleared it first stop in the Florida House on Thursday.
According to USA Today’s Florida Network, analysts for the liberal-leaning Florida Policy Institute estimate the plan will steer $2.4 billion to private schools as early as next year, up from $1.3 billion currently.
The bill also removes income and special needs requirements for families to qualify for vouchers. However, the proposal continues priority for families earning less than 185% of poverty.
Florida has steered kids to private schools using state dollars for more than two decades. Some private schools have closed and left students with no academic record, and a private school in Miami-Dade closed earlier this month due to a family dispute.
Democrats tried to impose a cap on tuition increases at private schools participating in the program, but Republicans defeated those efforts. Republicans posit that private schools add choice for parents.
