Institute for Justice Praises Florida’s Proposed School Choice Expansion

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Today, Rep. Kaylee Tuck (R-83) introduced HB 1, legislation that would expand eligibility for Florida’s Family Empowerment Scholarship Program and Tax Credit Scholarship Program. While continuing to prioritize lower income applicants, the programs would be made available to all families in the state. The Institute for Justice (IJ), which successfully defended the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program and the McKay Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program at the Florida Supreme Court, praised the new proposal.

“For decades, Florida has been a national leader in expanding educational opportunities for parents and students,” said IJ Senior Attorney Ari Bargil. “With HB 1, Florida stands to expand those educational options to all students within its borders.

“Parents should be the primary decisionmakers when it comes to the education of their children. HB 1 empowers parents from all economic backgrounds to make basic decisions about how and where their children are educated.

“The one-size-fits-all model of the traditional public school system works for many students, but not for everyone. HB 1 empowers parents to drive the educational futures of their children by enabling them to seek out the schooling that works best for them.”