When I think about the state of public education in Florida, I recall a song from “The Wiz,” the 1978 film reimagining of “The Wizard of Oz,” where Diana Ross sang, “Can’t you feel a brand new day?”   

It’s a brand new day in our state’s educational history. Parents are in the driver’s seat deciding where and how their children are educated, and because the money follows the student, every school and educational institution must compete for the opportunity to serve them.  

Public schools are rising to meet that challenge.  

For the past year, helping them has been my full-time job. 

Today, 27 of Florida’s 67 school districts have contracted with Step Up For Students to provide classes and services to scholarship students, and another 10 have applied to do so.  

 

That’s up from a single school district and one lone charter school this time a year ago. 

This represents a seismic shift in public education.  

For decades, a student’s ZIP code determined which district school he or she attended, limiting options for most families. For decades, Florida slowly chipped away at those boundaries, giving families options beyond their assigned schools.  

Then, in 2023, House Bill 1 supercharged the transformation. That legislation made every K-12 student in Florida eligible for a scholarship. It gave parents more flexibility in how they can use their child’s scholarship. It also created the Personalized Education Program (PEP), designed specifically for students not enrolled in school full time.  

This year, more than 80,000 PEP students are joining approximately 39,000 Unique Abilities students who are registered homeschoolers. That means nearly 120,000 scholarship students whose families are fully mixing and matching their education.  

Families are sending the clear message that they want choices, flexibility, and an education that reflects the unique needs and interests of their children. 

Districts have heard that message.  

Parents may not want a full-time program at their neighborhood school, but they still want access to the districts’ diverse menu of resources, including AP classes, robotics labs, career education courses, and state assessments. Families can pay for those services directly with their scholarship funds, giving districts a new revenue stream while ensuring students get exactly what they need. 

In my conversations with district leaders across the state, they see demand for more flexible options in their communities, and they’re figuring out how to meet it.   

For instance, take a family whose child is enthusiastic about robotics. In the past, their choices would have been all-or-nothing. If they chose to use a scholarship, they would gain the ability to customize their child’s education but lose access to the popular robotics course at their local public school. Now, that family can enroll their child in a district robotics course, pay for it with their scholarship, and give their child firsthand technology experience to round out the tutoring, curriculum, online courses and other educational services the family uses their scholarship to access.  

Families can log in to their account in Step Up’s EMA system, find providers under marketplace and select their local school district offerings under “contracted public school services.” School districts will get a notification when a scholarship student signs up for one of their classes. From large, urban districts like Miami-Dade to small, rural ones like Lafayette, superintendents are excited to see scholarship students walk through their doors to engage in the “cool stuff” public schools can offer. Whether it’s dual enrollment, performing arts, or career and technical education, districts are learning that when they open their arms to families with choice, those families respond with enthusiasm. 

Parents are no longer passive consumers of whatever system they happen to live in. They are empowered, informed, and determined to customize their child’s learning journey.  

This is the promise of a brand new day in Florida education. For too long, choice has been framed as a zero-sum game where if a student left the public system, or never even attended in the first place, the district lost. That us-versus-them mentality is quickly going the way of the Wicked Witch of the West. What we are witnessing now is something far more hopeful: a recognition that districts and families can be partners, not adversaries, in building customized learning pathways. 

The future of education in Florida is not about one system defeating another. It is about ensuring families have access to as many options as needed, regardless of who delivers them.  

As Diana Ross once sang, “Hello world! It’s like a different way of living now.” It has my heart singing so joyfully. 

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Gedontae “Duke” Rich never considered himself Ivy League material until, as a high school junior, he was approached by a football coach from Princeton University who offered a scholarship.

Not long after, he received a similar offer from a football coach at Cornell University.

“The college scholarship part, I could probably see myself doing that,” Duke said. “But an Ivy League school? That wasn't even a thought. I didn't know I was capable of that until I got the offers.”

What to do? Princeton or Cornell?

“I told him there was no wrong decision,” said Chris Harvey, the football coach at Clearwater Central Catholic High School (CCC).

Duke, a standout safety who played four years of varsity football at CCC, picked Cornell, an Ivy League school in Ithaca, New York.

“It’s a chill atmosphere,” he said. “It’s an Ivy League degree, but everyone is not there to be a rocket scientist.”

Duke graduated in May from CCC, having attended the college-preparatory high school with the help of a Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options, managed by Step Up For Students.

“You don't really see too many young Black men from where I'm from and where we grew up that are able to keep focused, keep their grades up, and go to an Ivy League school,” said Duke’s father, Gedontae Rich. “That speaks volumes.”

***

Duke grew up in St. Petersburg, about 30 minutes south of CCC. He’s been called Duke his whole life – “I was always calling him ‘Duke’ since he was little, crawling around, and it just stuck,” Gedontae said – and he attended CCC for what seems like that long.

Duke and his cousin, Jershaun Newton, have been fixtures at CCC football practices and games since they were 8. That’s when the first two of the five Newton brothers, who played football at CCC, began attending the school. Duke and Jershaun were everywhere, acting as ballboys and waterboys. As they grew older, they found their way into the weight room and the practice field.

So, there was never a question in Duke’s mind about where he would attend high school. He was going to CCC to play football and earn a college football scholarship just like his cousins. Jershaun, who also graduated this spring, will continue his career at the University of Illinois.

The education choice scholarship made that possible.

“The scholarship was a great help to us. It helped us out tremendously,” Gedontae said. “I believe if you apply yourself, CCC, it can definitely get you somewhere where you want to be. If you're a hard worker and want to do something in life, CCC will definitely help you get there.”

Coach Harvey has a saying: Four will get you 40, meaning four years of hard work and good grades in high school will lead to a college education that will lead to a successful life.

Duke’s hard work on the field helped him become a mainstay on a team that reached the state championship game during each of his last three seasons.

An honors student through elementary and middle school, Duke put forth the same effort in the classroom.

“I worked super hard, I was super strict my freshman year, and I started with a 4.3 GPA,” he said. “I already set a precedent and a standard, so why not keep going?”

Dr. Roshni Verghese teaches English at CCC and had Duke in her class during three of his four years.

“He was the first one to finish class work. If I assigned homework, he did it to the best of his ability; he didn’t just phone it in,” she said. “He truly enjoys having goals and fulfilling them. He doesn't like doing things halfheartedly. So, all these qualities, the fact that he is hard working, the fact that he knows he can challenge himself, and he enjoys the thrill of seeing that to the end, I think all those things make him a great student.”

It takes all of those qualities to reach an Ivy League school. And it takes great support from home.

“We pushed hard every day. I pushed him. My mom pushed him,” said Gedontae, who supervises asphalt and concrete crews for the City of St. Petersburg. “From day one, when he was little, we always said, ‘You've got to work hard.’ He sees me get up and go to work every day, working hard. I let him know every time, life ain't easy. There won’t be any handouts. So, you've got to get up and work for whatever you want.”

***

Dr. Verghese said Duke moved easily between his two worlds of athletics and academics.

“Being in this position of someone who is both great on the field and in class, he ended up being a role model for a lot of his classmates who may not have been able to balance both the same way, and they do look up to him,” she said. “They do respect him.

“I don't think there's a single student at our school who doesn't know who Duke Rich is. He’s done it all, the trifecta. He's popular, he's great at sports, great at academics.”

“Duke's a chameleon. He can fit in in a bunch of different places,” Coach Harvey said. “He's a great football player. He plays the game the way it was intended to be played, very physical and fast, and at the same time, he has the ability to flip that switch and go into a classroom and be as successful as he's been.”

Duke said CCC’s culture played a role in that. No matter where he roamed – the football field, the classroom – he was surrounded by hardworking, motivated classmates.

“Nothing is given. It's all deserved,” he said. “Like everybody here has something they deserve because they put in the work. That’s the CCC community. We’re hard workers.”

Duke chose Cornell because he found the culture there similar to CCC’s. He connected quickly with the coaching staff. He found the students he met on his recruiting trip to be encouraging, not intimidating. Ithaca is a small town that offers very little in terms of distractions.

“I chose that school because I can stay focused,” he said. “It’s an old town. Everyone is calm.”

Duke plans to study environmental sustainability science so he can pursue a career that involves climate and climate change.

“I’m always interested in the health of the world,” he said. “During freshman year, I realized climate change is the main reason why everything is happening, and then when I decided to major in environmental sustainability science, I knew I’d have the route to fix that type of thing.”

A scholarship, an Ivy League degree, and a desire to save the world. That’s Duke’s four for 40.

“I knew that he had what it took, and it’s nice to see him step into the bigger world,” Dr. Verghese said. “He’s ready for the bigger world. As a teacher, it’s exciting to see how his potential will grow.”

 

 

TAMPA, Fla. — When you think of homeschooling, what comes to mind? For many families, it’s a journey filled with creativity, flexibility, and personalized learning. Whether you're following a traditional curriculum, taking a hybrid approach, or crafting your own adventure with a Florida K-12 education savings account, parent-directed learning allows families to find the best fit for their children’s needs.

But no matter the style, every family needs support and reliable resources. That’s where The Homeschool Hive comes in. It’s more than just a store. It’s a community that helps families build confidence and find the tools they need to thrive.

A store with a heartbeat

The Homeschool Hive was founded by Kimberlee Tucker, a former classroom teacher and homeschool parent. Her journey began out of necessity. Years ago, Tucker was searching for the right materials and support to educate her daughter, who has unique learning needs. What she discovered was a gap in resources and understanding, especially for parents opting out of a traditional school system.

So, she created what she couldn’t find. Today, parents who visit The Homeschool Hive find a warm, welcoming place that offers curriculum, advice, enrichment tools, and a judgment-free space for families to learn and grow.

“Kimberlee Tucker truly understands how to find the right curriculum for each individual student,” said Lisa Mezzei, who has relied on Tucker, a certified educator, for the past 10 years to conduct annual evaluations for her son, Matthew. “The process has given Matthew a real sense of ownership in his education.”

A store that's truly for everyone

Step inside The Homeschool Hive and you’ll find a thoughtfully curated selection of materials for every subject and learning style. There are full curriculum kits, hands-on science activities, history unit studies, sensory-friendly items, reading support tools, and even educational games and fidgets.

Whether a child is a budding scientist, a reluctant reader, or needs a more tactile learning approach, the Hive has something for everyone. Parents say the best part is personalized support. Tucker and her team listen, guide, and recommend based on each family's needs.

“The Homeschool Hive is such a low pressure, welcoming place,” parent Anissa Stern said. You can visit several times to explore what works best for your child, and the staff, many of whom have children with unique abilities, are incredibly helpful. It’s a fantastic resource for any homeschooling family.”

Kelli Alexander agreed.

“The Homeschool Hive has truly guided our homeschooling journey. It is one of my children’s favorite places to go. Everything is educational, fun, and engaging. I have found so many helpful supplements and resources that reinforce what they have already learned, and I even do their yearly testing through the store.”

Alexander recommends families visit twice, once with their kids, so they can explore and find materials that excite them, and again solo to get one-on-one advice from the staff. “It really makes a difference,” she added

 

Alexander's children especially love the extras they’ve found there, including books, games, and fidgets that make learning more enjoyable. They also look forward to the store’s community events, like the Christmas party, where her kids enjoy volunteering and connecting with other homeschool families.

From frustration to inspiration

Many parents come to The Homeschool Hive unsure of where to begin. It can feel overwhelming trying to choose the right curriculum or learning tools, especially if you’re new to homeschooling or supporting a child with special learning needs. But what sets the Hive apart is its heart.

Tucker and her team meet families where they are. They provide encouragement, advice, and solutions that are realistic and effective. Parents leave feeling seen, heard, and empowered to take the next step in their child’s education.

Tucker’s daughter, the inspiration behind it all, has since graduated from high school and is now engaged to be married. That journey of learning and growth is something Tucker says she wants for every family that walks through her doors.

A store that goes beyond the basics

Tucker doesn’t just stock big brands. She travels to toy and education conferences across the country, sourcing creative and engaging tools from family-owned and independent companies. These unique items aren’t just educational; they’re fun, hands-on, and often perfect for gifts or seasonal enrichment.

For those not local to Florida, The Homeschool Hive ships nationwide and has become a go-to resource for families across the country. Families don’t have to be on a Florida education choice scholarship to purchase from the store. Everyone’s welcome. With growing demand, Tucker is considering opening a second location soon. She recently expanded the staff to include Bernadette Bee.
"She is my new shop dog," Tucker said. "She is therapy trained and training to be a service dog for me."

 

 Perfectly timed for the educational shift

As school choice continues to expand in Florida and across the country, families are exploring new ways to educate their children. The Homeschool Hive is perfectly positioned to support that shift. Whether you're a brand new homeschool or scholarship parent or several years into the journey, this is the place where guidance, resources, and inspiration come together.

“If you are just starting your homeschooling journey, you have to visit the Homeschool Hive first," parent Lisa Mezzei said. "It is the perfect place to get support, explore options, and find what really works for your child.”

 

When our son Keith — affectionately known as “Deuce” — was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder at age 3, we were told he might never speak beyond echolalia (the automatic repetition of words or phrases). Until age 5, echolalia was all we heard.  

But Deuce found his voice, and with it, a unique way of seeing the world.  

 He needed to find the right learning environment, with the assistance of a Florida education choice scholarship. 

Deuce spent his early academic years in a district public school, supported by an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Despite the accommodations, learning remained a challenge. We realized that for some, a student’s success requires more than paperwork.  It requires community, compassion, and collaboration with the parents. 

Imagine having words in your head but lacking the ability to communicate when you need it most.  That was Deuce’s experience in public school.  His schools gave him limited exposure to social norms and rigor in the classroom.  Additionally, through his IEP, he always needed therapy services throughout the school day, which limited his ability to take electives and courses he enjoyed.  

His mother and I instilled the importance of having a strong moral compass and working hard toward his social and academic goals. Although we appreciated his time in public school, we knew a change was needed to prepare him for post-secondary education.  We applied and were approved for the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities. 

Knowing the potential tradeoffs of leaving public school and the IEP structure behind, we chose to enroll Deuce at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School in Spring Hill, about 35 miles north of Tampa. We believed the nurturing, faith-based environment would help him thrive. It was the right decision.   

Catholic school provided Deuce with the support he needed to maximize his potential. Despite his autism diagnosis, he was never limited at Bishop. He was accepted into their AP Capstone Program. This was particularly challenging, but Bishop was accommodating.  The school provided him with an Exceptional Student Education (ESE) case manager dedicated to his success, and he received a student support plan tailored to his diagnosis and learning style. The school didn’t lower expectations; instead, it empowered him to take rigorous coursework with the right guidance.  

Any transition for a child with autism will take time to adjust. On the first day, I received a call: Deuce had walked out of class. This was due to his biology teacher using a voice amplifier. The sound overwhelmed Deuce’s senses, and he began “stimming”— rapidly blinking and tapping his hands. Instead of punishing him or ignoring the issue, the staff immediately reached out.  

Together, we crafted a Student Success Plan tailored to Deuce’s needs, drawing from his public school IEP without being bound by it. His plan included preferential seating, frequent breaks, verbal and nonverbal cueing, encouragement, and clear direction repetition. For testing, he was given extended time, one-on-one settings, and help understanding instructions.  

These adjustments made all the difference. 

Throughout high school, Deuce maintained a grade-point average of over 4.0 while taking honors, AP, and dual enrollment courses. Additionally, he was inducted into the National Honor Society and Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society while also playing varsity baseball. Because of his success at Bishop, he will continue his educational journey at Savannah State University, where he will major in accounting and continue to play baseball. 

 

Catholic schools in Florida increasingly are accommodating students with special needs. The state’s education choice scholarship programs have been instrumental in making Catholic education available to more families. Over the past decade, during a time when Catholic school enrollment has declined across much of the nation and diocesan schools have been forced to close, no state has seen more growth than Florida.  

At the same time, the number of students attending a Catholic school on a special-needs scholarship has nearly quadrupled, from 3,004 in 2014-15 to 11,326 in 2024-25. Clearly, many families are choosing the advantages of a private school education without an IEP versus a public school with an IEP.  

So, I’m puzzled why federal legislation being considered in Congress, the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA), includes a mandate that that all private schools provide accommodations to students with special education needs, including those with IEPs.  

Although more and more students with special needs are accessing private schools, not every school can accommodate every student’s unique needs (which is also true of public schools). And, as I learned with Deuce, some schools can accommodate students more effectively if they aren’t bound by rigid legal mandates and have the flexibility to collaborate with parents who choose to entrust them with their children’s education. 

If the IEP mandate passes, it would prohibit many schools from accepting funds through a new 50-state scholarship program, undermining the worthy goal of extending educational choice options to more families. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has called it a “poison pill” that would “debilitate Catholic school participation.” 

Bishop McLaughlin’s willingness to partner with me as a parent not only allowed Deuce to succeed academically but also gave him the dignity and respect every child deserves. IEPs work for many. For others, like Deuce, it takes something more like collaboration to build a path forward together. 

 

As we celebrate National School Choice Week, we’re reflecting on educational freedom's profound impact on students, families, and communities. This week, we’re not just celebrating the opportunities that school choice offers, but also the incredible stories of individuals whose lives have been transformed by it.

Ilen Perez-Valdez: Overcoming adversity through choice

Ilen Perez-Valdez’s story is one of resilience and determination. Growing up, Ilen faced numerous challenges; she was born with four chronic medical conditions that required constant treatment and medication. Her mother, a Cuban immigrant, had to flee her home country at a young age and worked multiple jobs to provide for Ilen and her grandmother. As a child, Ilen’s medical needs were often too complex for the local public schools to accommodate.

However, Ilen’s life took a dramatic turn when she received a Florida Tax Credit Scholarship through Step Up For Students. The scholarship allowed Ilen to attend St. Agatha Catholic School in Miami, where she received the personalized care and support she needed. She went on to attend Immaculata-La Salle High School, where her education was tailored to meet her unique needs. Thanks to the flexibility of school choice, Ilen was able to flourish in a smaller classroom setting, where she not only received the medical support she required but excelled academically.

Today, Ilen attends the University of Miami on a full academic scholarship and is pursuing a degree in neuroscience. She attributes her success to the opportunities she was given through the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship. Ilen now advocates for other children who face similar challenges, sharing her story to help others understand the life-changing impact of school choice.

Caitie Barnes: A story of resilience and opportunity

As a child, Caitie underwent open-heart surgery, which required special care and attention throughout her education. Her family faced significant financial challenges when her father was laid off during the recession, making it difficult to afford private school tuition. But, thanks to private school financial aid and, later, the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship when her family moved from Tennessee to Florida during her junior year, Caitie could continue her education at a school that could meet her academic and medical needs.

When her family relocated due to her father’s new job at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, Caitie found a perfect fit at Rocky Bayou Christian School. There, Caitie thrived in a supportive environment, graduating as class valedictorian. Today, Caitie attends Covenant College and is pursuing a psychology degree with a pre-law concentration and a minor in community development. Caitie’s story is a testament to the power of educational choice and the doors it can open for students facing personal challenges.

Why these stories matter

Ilen and Caitie are just two shining examples of the countless lives transformed by the power of school choice. Their stories are a powerful reminder of why it’s crucial to ensure every child has access to a high-quality education regardless of their background, circumstances, or medical needs.

As someone who has experienced this firsthand, I can attest to the life-changing impact of educational choice. My family’s journey was forever transformed by the opportunity to choose the best educational path. This is not just about policy; it's about real families, real futures, and the incredible potential that can be unlocked when students are given the chance to thrive in the environment that works best for them.

As we close out National School Choice Week, let’s remember that our children’s future depends on the opportunities we provide today. Every child deserves the chance to succeed, and with the freedom to choose the education that best fits their needs, we unlock limitless potential. Let’s continue to stand together, celebrate our progress, and fight for even more opportunities so that every student, like Ilen and Caitie, has the chance to thrive.

The power to change a life starts with choice, and that choice is in our hands.

As the movement for education options gains momentum across the country, there remains a clear national leader: Florida. 

This school year, the Sunshine State’s education savings account programs are larger than their counterparts in every other state put together. Including programs that provide flexible funding to public-school students, they are on track to serve more than 500,000 students this year. 

To put the scale of these options in perspective, if students in Florida’s scholarship programs counted as a school district, it would be the third largest in the country, after New York City and Los Angeles. 

But this is not simply a story about scale or numbers. ESAs allow families to direct education funding to eligible learning options of their choice. The ability to personalize a child's education empowers families in profound ways. 

Meet five families who have taken control of their children’s educational destiny. 

Caleb Prewitt 

Caleb has been riding horses since he was 4 years old. Caleb is now 17 years old and has participated in 36 triathlons. He recently raced the international distance, which is an 800-meter swim, 16-mile bike, and 10k run. He was the youngest competitor (all divisions) for the International. 

“We have set out from early on not to put limits on him; to keep our expectations high,” his mom, Karen, told me. “With opportunities and support, so much is possible for people with disabilities. So much more than is expected.” 

Caleb is a well-known figure in his community and on social media, where he shares uplifting news, spreads joy and offers cooking lessons to his followers. Caleb’s love for the culinary arts shines through as he bakes cookies for Happy Brew, a local coffee shop that employs individuals with unique abilities. 

Caleb loves going to school, says Karen. He attends North Florida School of Special Education in Jacksonville. She notes that the scholarship not only brightens Caleb’s life but also brings joy to their family, as it has created many opportunities and opened doors for them. “For several years, Caleb has benefitted from the FES-UA scholarship, which has provided him with a supportive learning environment and numerous unique opportunities,” Karen said. “We are deeply grateful for the positive impact it has had.” 

Viktoriia Galushchak 

The Galushchak family immigrated to the United States from Ukraine three years ago to escape the war. The family was in a new country, speaking a different language with no car and little money. But at age 11, Viktoriia really wanted to go to school to make some friends. “We are so grateful for Step Up because it allowed us to put our children into private school,” her mother, Olga Galushchak, explained. 

The family found St. Paul Catholic School that was a 10-minute walk from their house, and Viktoriia enrolled in the spring of 2022. Olga says it was such a blessing. Viktoriia’s English was strong from studying it in Ukraine, so her transition to school went well. At home, the family speaks only English one day a week to strengthen their skills. 

Viktoriia entered the school science fair in seventh grade. Her project: creating a computer program to help deaf and mute people. She was inspired by an experience with car trouble during their journey to America. They received help from two men who were deaf and mute, and Viktoriia was determined to find ways to help people like them communicate more effectively. The project won third place in the state science fair in 2023. 

Viktoriia set her sights on first place for the eighth-grade science fair. She created a program to help children learn foreign languages that would give them real-life examples while they used it. This project won first place in the state science fair, and she received a grant award for the project. Viktoriia and her family are eagerly waiting to learn if she will be selected to present her project at the national science fair in Washington, D.C. 

Viktoriia is now a freshman at a Bishop Kenny High School in Jacksonville, still using the Florida Tax Credit scholarship to help pay tuition. The family is grateful for the scholarship, and they do not think Viktoriia’s last three years would have been the same if she did not have the opportunity to attend a school that fit her needs so well. 

Kingston, Zecheriah and Gabriel Lynch III 

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Lynch family had to quickly adapt, and they chose to transition from a private school to homeschooling. 

Even after the pandemic ended, the family continued homeschooling. In 2023, their three children received the newly established Personalized Education Program (PEP) scholarship, which they say has been instrumental in their journey. 

The scholarship provided invaluable resources, including one-on-one tutoring. This personalized support made a profound difference in Kingston, who struggled in math but began to make significant strides. Mom said the scholarship allowed him to receive tutoring with a certified math teacher, who can pinpoint his needs and ensure he understands the material before moving on. 

The Lynch family’s homeschool setup now includes daily tutoring, vocal lessons, and a range of educational resources, transforming their learning environment into one that nurtures each child's growth. Parents Krystle and Gabe Jr., who is a district school PE teacher, have successfully balanced their professional and family responsibilities while supporting their children's education. Their Jamaican and Panamanian heritages have added depth to their homeschool experience: the boys are taking Spanish this year. Both parents are very committed to a strong education and work ethic, so they try to incorporate these values in their schooling. Reflecting on the impact, Krystle says, "I am so excited for the families that will receive the PEP scholarship this year. [It’s] an amazing program that caters to students individually. Such a blessing." 

Sebastian and Alejandro Broche 

Aimée Uriarte, a dedicated single mother from Costa Rica, made a pivotal decision four years ago to move to the United States, driven by her commitment to providing her sons with a strong educational environment that would offer exceptional opportunities. 

Her eldest son, Sebastian, now 18, graduated with honors from Christopher Columbus High School in Miami which he attended thanks to the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Educational Options (FES-EO). As president of the school's student-run broadcast news program, Sebastian led a team that won numerous national accolades. In fact, the brothers have combined to win more than 60 awards for directing and graphics. Sebastian earned a $4,500 per semester scholarship from the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, received a $7,500 grant from Media for Minorities, and received the Mike Wallace Memorial Scholarship, worth $10,000, funded by CBS News. 

Alejandro, who recently turned 16, has attention deficit disorder, which qualified him for the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Students with Unique Abilities (FES-UA). The previous school he attended during the pandemic wasn't meeting his needs, but Aimee was confident that the Catholic high school was the right environment for her son to reach his full potential. Her belief was confirmed when Alejandro, as a freshman, won a Student Television Network national award in Long Beach, California, following in his brother's footsteps. A year later, he took first place for a nationwide commercial and won several Student Emmys, including one for best graphics in the recognized documentary "Live Like Bella." 

Aimée credits these remarkable accomplishments and transformative opportunities available to her sons to the vital support of the scholarships. “I think every family deserves the scholarships, regardless of income or their child’s conditions,” said Aimée, who added, “I think the whole country should emulate Florida.” 

Vanessa Giordano 

Vanessa is a thriving 16-year-old in 10th grade. However, her early years as a premature twin were not so easy. She struggled to meet developmental milestones and was diagnosed with dyslexia. Her mom, Alicia, worked hard to advocate for education options in Texas. In 2023, their family moved to Florida and were delighted to learn the state offered a scholarship program for children with unique abilities. 

Fast forward. Vanessa is now in her second year at Bishop McLaughlin High School in the Tampa Bay area and using the Family Empowerment Scholarship for Unique Abilities. Her teachers have encouraged her to explore her talents and try new things.  She is an active member of the worship team and enjoys singing at school events.  She had her first role in a school play as “Chip” from “Beauty and the Beast.” She is also a sideline cheerleader and part of the competitive cheer team.  Despite her robust extracurricular schedule, Vanessa always maintains grades that keep her on the honor roll.

 

“I am so grateful for Step Up for Students for helping my daughter,” Alicia Giordano says. "Every child can soar if given the opportunity to be in the right school for them and Step Up for Students makes this dream possible.” 

Florida’s scholarship program for K-12 students who don’t attend school full-time has turned on the “no vacancy” sign.

The Personalized Education Program operates as an education savings account that allocates an average of $8,000 per student for approved education-related expenses. It has reached its statutory capacity of 60,000 students for the school year.

 Step Up For Students, which manages the bulk of the scholarships, said parents may continue to apply this year. Staff will review capacity regularly to see if more scholarships become available.

Since the state began offering PEP in 2023, demand immediately took off and has continued to skyrocket. Last year, the program was capped at 20,000 students. This year, the law allowed the cap to grow by 40,000 to a total of 60,000 students. Next year, the program can grow another 40,000, bringing the total to 100,000.

The program’s growth has supercharged education entrepreneurs who start a la carte programs that can operate independently or in partnership with traditional schools.

“People are seeing what’s possible with customized education solutions, and it seems that this approach is really popular,” said Eric Wearne, an associate professor in the Education Economics Center at Kennesaw State University and director of the National Hybrid Schools Project. He added that for years, parents have been interested in schedule flexibility, and “these new programs are making that kind of schedule more accessible.”

A good example is Baker County Christian Co-op. Tucked away in the tiny Northeast Florida town of Glen St. Mary, the hybrid homeschool started in a house with a handful of families in 2017. It has since expanded to three buildings that serve 250 students, with 300 more on a waitlist.

Katie Wilford, one of three co-founders and a former public school educator, credits PEP with the rapid enrollment growth.

“I used to get an email once a day,” Wilford said. “Now, I get five or six emails a day. It has blown up.” She said 95% of the students at Baker County Christian Co-op receive PEP, while about 4% receive the state scholarship for students with unique abilities. Both programs operate as education savings accounts.

Jessie and John Pedraza, parents from Naples, Florida, began homeschooling their two daughters, Annaliyah and Gianna, since the COVID-19 pandemic first closed schools but continued full time. Jessie has used PEP for field trips and memberships to STEM programs near their home as well as physical education. Annaliyah, who is in fifth grade, is in martial arts. Gianna joined a gym with a program for kids ages 7-11.

“PEP has allowed us to level up our homeschool experience,” she said. “It gives us the opportunity to really create an A-plus homeschool experience versus an A or B-plus.”

Editor’s note: This post from Bruno V. Manno, senior adviser to the Walton Family Foundation’s K-12 Program and a redefinED contributor, appeared Tuesday on The 74. Manno references Florida Virtual School, which saw a 57% increase in new course enrollments in its part-time Flex program, in his discussion of how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the face of K-12 education.

“Never in my lifetime have so many parents been so eager for so much education change.”

So said longtime pollster Frank Luntz after surveying 1,000 public and private school parents on how the pandemic affected their view of schools.

COVID-19 forced schools to change from being buildings where teaching, learning and programs were bundled together to serve students and families to a menu of services and choices that parents were forced to piece together — rebundle — to meet their needs.

The potential long-term result could be a more student-focused, parent-directed and pluralistic K-12 school system.

The consulting firm Tyton Partners estimates COVID-19 shock produced a 2.6 million-student decrease in district and private schools, with charter schools, homeschooling, micro-schools and other alternatives gaining enrollment. The U.S. Census reports homeschooling enrollment increased from 5.4 to 11.1 percent of households. African Americans registered a fivefold increase, from 3.3 to 16.1 percent.

What other alternatives did parents choose as they worked to rebuild their child’s schooling?

One was family-organized discovery sites, aka pods — gathering small groups of students, in person or virtually, with added services like tutoring, childcare or afterschool programs. San Francisco Mayor London Breed opened 84 pods serving around 2,400 children, about 96 percent racial minorities.

The Columbus, Ohio, YMCA offered pods for students aged 5 to 16 attending schools virtually, with arrival as early as 6 a.m. JPMorgan Chase offered discounts on virtual tutors and pods for eligible employees using Bright Horizons, its employer provider, and opened its 14 childcare centers for employees’ children’s remote learning at no cost. Organizations like SchoolHouse, LearningPodsHub and Selected for Families helped parents start pods, organizing teachers and tutors.

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