Florida’s public schools are competing. The rest of the nation should take note

The most common argument I hear teachers union advocates and politicians promulgate is that private school choice destroys public schools. All over America, the school choice battle rages on, with the largest teachers union, politicians, and anti-school choice advocates fighting against education freedom, sometimes because they believe it will protect their beloved neighborhood schools. But this is an outdated approach, and outdated system, and it is well past time for public school districts and public school advocates to reframe their thinking. Instead of fighting for the preservation of something that’s not working, how can public schools innovate and adapt in the new age of education freedom? Florida’s model may be the answer.

Florida families are responsible for directing the use of almost $4 billion education dollars each year with almost 543,000 students enrolled in school choice programs. For-profit education providers such as Primer identified the opportunity and entered the market, opening high-performing and cutting-edge microschools in the state. In the same way, 10 Florida school districts saw the opportunity for innovation and made their courses, both virtual and in person, available for purchase to some scholarship recipients. The scholarship dollars that families are using to assemble a personalized education for their children can be used to buy public school courses, too, diversifying district revenue streams and maintaining relevance for public school systems — all while serving families’ needs.

Looking for the perfect course in algebra for your homeschooled ninth grader? Go ahead and buy it à la carte from the Orange County school district. Have an outdoorsy child who would enjoy a nature-based Earth science course? Maybe the Oak Meadow outdoor book-based curriculum is right for you. Let the best product for your child win! When a family uses their scholarship dollars to create a parent-directed education for their child, a Florida student can be a public school student and a private school student at the same time. Times have changed, and education freedom gives parents the ability to pick and choose what is best for their children.

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