Data Snapshot: Florida

With the release of the Alliance for School Choice's School Choice Yearbook 2011-12 (available for download here), we'll spend the next few days on School Choice Now! highlighting some of the new data and research it contains.

Florida expanded both its private school choice programs in 2011, continuing its trend of being the leader on education reform.  The Florida Tax Credit Scholarship to allow companies to redirect 100 percent of their tax liabilities to Student Funding Organizations.  In addition, insurance companies can contribute up to 100 percent of their insurance premium liability.  Student eligibility was expanded under the John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program to include students who have an accommodation plan under the federal Rehabilitation Act.

And with these changes come the results:

2011 Results

• Number of School Choice Programs: 2
• Total Number of Students: 60,859
•  Total Number of Participating Schools: 2230
• Total Expenditures: $323,849,829

John M. McKay Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program

The nation’s longest running special needs voucher program that began with two students in 1999 and has grown to more than 22,000 participating students this year.

2011-12 School Year Data Update

• Scholarships Awarded: 22,861
• Schools Participating: 1,050
• 2011 Expenditures: $148,849,829

    Growth in Student Participation

Florida Tax Credit Scholarship

This tax credit scholarship program is the most accountable scholarship tax credit program in the nation, meeting 10 of 10 accountability standards! And this program is growing each year, both in terms of student enrollment and the statewide cap on how much corporations can donate.  Now that’s getting in the business of education reform!

2011-12 School Year Data Update

• Scholarships Awarded: 37,998
• Schools Participating: 1,180
• SFOs Operating: 1
• 2011 Expenditures: $175,000,000

    Growth in Student Participation

2012 Outlook

The Sunshine State’s scholarship tax credit statewide cap on donations will increase to $218,700,000—a good thing since donors reached the cap of $175,000,000 this year.  In addition, the legislature is considering some adjustments to the program that will allow more businesses to donate more of their tax liability.

- American Federation for Children | Alliance for School Choice, MSG