Florida

Existing Programs:

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program — 2001
Gives tax credits to individuals and corporations who donate to organizations that give private-school scholarships to low-income children. Recipients of the credit get dollar-for-dollar credits, with total credits capped at $229 million.

John M. McKay Scholarship Program — 1999
Gives vouchers to students with disabilities to attend private school.

Legislature Status:

Adjourned.

Pending Legislation:

None.

Breakdown:

Private school choice first arrived in Florida with the creation of Opportunity Scholarships in 1999. However, in January 2006 the state Supreme Court barred down the program, saying the state’s Constitution prevents public funds from being used to fund private educations.

The ruling left the state’s two other private school choice programs untouched. There has also been a bid to create educational scholarship accounts much like Arizona’s, in which money that would have been spent on a student’s public education is funneled into a savings account for that student, which can be used to finance anything from private school education to educational therapy.

Get more information on ALEC education bills introduced in Florida in 2013:

• Alternative Certification Act (SB 1664, SB 1238)
• Education Savings Account (HB 1251)
• The Innovation Schools and School Districts Act (SB 1390)
• The Special Needs Scholarship Program Act (SB 172)
• Parent Trigger Act (HB 867, SB 862)

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