Florida Voucher Programs
Florida was the first state to create a statewide private school voucher program. In January 2006, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that the state's original voucher program, enacted in 1999, violates the state constitution. The Florida Legislature also has created two other voucher programs: one for children with disabilities and a corporate tuition tax credit program that operates much like a voucher program.
Collectively, approximately 37,000 students participate in the 2 programs, which could cost the state more than $200 million in 2007-08. The McKay voucher program for children with disabilities enrolls about 18,000 students at a cost of about $119 million this year, while the corporate tuition tax credit program enrolls more than 19,000 students with a cap of $88 million annually. The programs have been racked by scandal and fraud, though lawmakers have rejected attempts to add significant public accountability standards to the programs and are even debating expanding the tax credit program in 2008.
Resources
- School vouchers study finds little difference between public schools, private schools (St. Petersburg Times, 6-30-09)
- Stealth voucher plan doesn't belong on ballot (Palm Beach Post editorial, 6-27-08)
- NSBA Praises Florida Supreme Court Decision that Strikes Down Vouchers
[HTML 2,987kb] - NSBA Urges Florida Supreme Court to Strike Down Vouchers [HTML 3,053kb]
- NSBA Reviews Study of Florida's McKay Voucher Program (2003) [HTML 12,591kb]
NSBA looks at the findings of a 2003 study on Florida's McKay Voucher Program.
- School voucher analysis delayed (Palm Beach Post, 8-30-07)
Taxpayers still left with no way of knowing how Florida's multi-million dollar voucher programs are working.
- Call off voucher fight (Palm Beach Post, 4-16-07)
- Facts and Figures 2006 (Florida Department of Education)
Florida DOE figures for the McKay voucher program from 2006
- Archive of Palm Beach Post investigations into vouchers (Palm Beach Post)
The newspaper published numerous articles and editorials over several years documenting the scandals, fraud and lack of accountability in the state's multiple voucher programs.
- Success Academy supervisor faces charge of grand theft (The Florida Times-Union, 8-25-06)
- Principal speaks on closure of military academy (CBS4 News, 8-16-06)
A Florida private school that received taxpayer vouchers was shut down after city officials discovered the school had no occupational license to operate. The school came under scrutiny after the death of a student in a school-related trip.
- Senate limits voucher expansion plan (St. Petersburg Times, 4-5-06)
- Poll: Majority oppose vouchers (St. Petersburg Times, 3-30-06)
Poll finds 61 percent of Floridians, including majorities of Republicans, Democrats, Independents, whites, African-Americans and Latinos, oppose the state's flagship voucher program.
- BoardBuzz: New poll: Floridians don't like vouchers (3-31-06)
- Bush: School reform not over (St. Petersburg Times, 1-25-06)
- Stop the voucher fight (St. Petersburg Times, 1-6-06)
- Corporate voucher ruling pivots on whether the money to fund them is the state's (Palm Beach Post, 11-30-05)
- Devious plans (St. Petersburg Times, 11-27-05)
- Justices query lawyers in Fla. court showdown over voucher program (Ed Week, 6-15-05)
- Court showdown over Fla. vouchers nears (Ed Week, 5-25-05)
- House okays new vouchers (St. Petersburg Times, 5-3-05)
Senate said to be less enthusiastic as session winds down.
- Senate panel backs more voucher schools oversight (St. Pete Times, 4-27-05)
Florida Legislature again considers adding public oversight to scandal-plagued voucher programs.
- Investment firm sees profit in disabled students (Palm Beach Post, 2-22-05)
- Florida Supreme Court consolidates voucher cases (WJHG-TV, 12-23-04)
- Court refuses to expedite voucher lawsuit (A.P. via Florida Times-Union, 12-20-04)
- ...and Hidden Motives (St. Pete Times editorial, 10-27-04)
Florida paper blisters Michigan-based pro-voucher group for misleading political ads to elect Florida lawmakers.
- Pro-voucher group drops cash on state campaign (St. Pete Times, 10-26-04)
Michigan-based group tries to influence Florida state elections
- Dyslexic Teen Loses Voucher after Mom's Tuition Complaint (Palm Beach Post, 8-4-04)
- Voucher Oversight Remains Minimal (Palm Beach Post, 7-1-04)
Overview of state's voucher programs after state legislature fails to pass accountability laws.
- Seven Charged in Voucher Scam (Palm Beach Post, 6-30-04)
School employees charged with using voucher money to buy SUV and TV.
- Tuitions might rise for parents using vouchers (Palm Beach Post, May 16)
- Governor may rein in vouchers (Palm Beach Post, May 7)
- King plans new voucher effort (Palm Beach Post, May 6)
Senate president says "The voucher situation is a disaster waiting to happen."
- Lawmakers fail on voucher accountability bill (Palm Beach Post, May 1)
- Voucher school accreditation dropped (Palm Beach Post, March 25)
Lawmakers reject pleas by established private school groups to require voucher schools be accredited. They also reject amendment to publicly disclose names of corporations receiving dollar-for-dollar tax credit for voucher contributions.
- Private educators seek to limit vouchers to accredited schools (Palm Beach Post, March 24)
- Charter chiefs also taking vouchers (Palm Beach Post, March 17)
- Vouchers suspended at Duval school (Palm Beach Post, March 9)
State investigating whether taxpayer money went to voucher school for students actually attending public schools.
- Vouchers Can Work, with Safeguards (St. Petersburg Times, 12-22-03)
Fla. Catholic Conference lobbyist calls for 'reasonable accountability' in voucher programs.
- Voucher Oversight...(St. Petersburg Times, 12-14-03)
Editorial responds to blistering state audit of Florida voucher programs.
- "...and Empty Promises" (St. Petersburg Times, 12-14-03)
2nd of 2 Dec. 14 editorials following state audit on voucher programs.
- Chief Financial Officer audit of Florida voucher programs (12-11-03)
Florida's chief financial officer blasts two of state's voucher programs for lack of oversight and accountability. Read the audit here.
- Vouchers Withheld from 41 Schools (St. Petersburg Times, 11-12-03)
- Come Fall, the Heat is Off (St. Petersburg Times, 11-6-03)
- Voucher Flaws and Fixes are Revealed (St. Petersburg Times, 10-17-03)
- Voucher Misadventures (St. Petersburg Times, 10-6-03)
Editorial on the costs of Florida's voucher programs.
- Where's the Money? (St. Petersburg Times, Sept. 2)
Editorial questions lack of accountability with Florida vouchers.
- Who is Accountable? (St. Petersburg Times, July 29)
Editorial questions the lack of public oversight in Florida's voucher tax credit program amid recent criminal investigations involving a participating school.
- Education Secrets (St. Petersburg Times, July 15)
Editorial discusses recent allegations of document falsification and the level of oversight in Florida voucher program.