More choice. Better outcomes.

For school choice opponents, the Apocalypse is always on the way.

Check out these quotes from Florida, going back to creation of the state’s first “voucher.”

1999: Vouchers “will kill public education.”

2002: With more vouchers, “public schools in the state will crumble.”

2006: Choice supporters “light fuse to detonate the schools.”

2014: Education savings accounts “will blow the doors off public education.”

2019: A new choice scholarship is “the death sentence for Florida public schools.”

2021: More ESAs will be “the death knell for public education.”

This year, a whopping 30 states are considering choice bills. Two, Kentucky and West Virginia, already passed them.

Game over, man!?

Thankfully, we’re good. Which is why we put together this 2-minute video:

[penci_video url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=METBrDNF4PU” align=”center” width=”750″ /]

Florida has as much choice as any state in America – and not a zombie or alien in sight.

Before you watch, three things:

·       More context. Florida’s trend lines are rising even though Florida ranks No. 12 in percentage of low-income students, and No. 42 in per-pupil spending.

·       More research. This excellent new study finds Florida leading in choice expansion – and seeing especially strong gains among disadvantaged students.

·       More videos. We’re hoping to unveil some other fun, little videos soon. Along with a new “Study Hall” page on the Step Up For Students website.

So, stay tuned.

And with all that sky falling, stay safe.


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BY Ron Matus

Ron Matus is director for policy and public affairs at Step Up for Students and a former editor of redefinED. He joined Step Up in February 2012 after 20 years in journalism, including eight years as an education reporter with the Tampa Bay Times (formerly the St. Petersburg Times). Ron can be reached at rmatus@stepupforstudents.org or (727) 451-9830. Follow him on Twitter @RonMatus1 and on facebook at facebook.com/redefinedonline.