A new state law requires the Flagler County school district this year to pay just over $6 million to underwrite the private-school education of 685 students, including at parochial and out-of-county schools. The money also goes to families home-schooling their children.
The district is also required to pay $750 per student who attends an out of county private school, to defray the cost of transportation.
The state requirement is not unique to Flagler. It’s statewide, affecting all 67 school districts. The program is officially called the Family Empowerment Scholarship Program. The deceptive euphemism masks the intent and consequence of the program. Families have always been “empowered” to homeschool their children or to send them to private schools, if they could afford it, just as they are “empowered” to send their children to public schools, often to the public school of their choice. The program, however, uses tax dollars to pay for private education, quite literally siphoning public dollars to mostly unaccountable schools, some of them popping up to tap into the new revenue stream.
Local districts have no say at all about what schools parents choose for their children or at what cost, and no oversight responsibilities regarding each school’s standards. The district’s role is to generate, then shift dollars to private uses.
For example, two dozen Flagler County students attend Calvary Christian Academy in Ormond Beach, where tuition ranges between $7,800 to $8,400 a year, not including transportation, meals, mandatory uniforms or certain extra-curricular activities. Other Flagler students attend Beacon of Hope Christian School in St. Augustine or Esformes Hebrew Academy in Ormond Beach, and many attend Christ the King Lutheran’s school in Palm Coast, among others.
The drain on the district’s dollars amounts to 5 percent of its general fund budget, a colossal sum that impacts every aspect of the district’s finances. The number of participants is only growing, and with it the drain on the budget, with consequences that the district is only beginning to grasp. The public at large is mostly unaware of what amounts to the most drastic shift in the way the state funds public education since it launched its financing of charter schools over two decades ago–a separate use of public dollars to pay for privately run schools.
Last year, the Flagler school district paid $4.15 million, underwriting the private education of 515 students. The year before that, when qualifications for the program were stricter and the state’s commitment to it not as pronounced, the district paid under $1 million for the private-school education of 136 students.
Pattie Wormeck, the Flagler school district’s finance director, presented the numbers to a workshop of the Flagler County School Board this afternoon. Some of the board members had asked for the report after learning a few weeks ago that the district would take an unprecedented $6 million hit on its budget due to the private-school voucher program, even though the district’s overall budget has not grown in years. In inflation-adjusted dollars, the district is at a multi-million dollar deficit, compared to its budget 10 years ago.
“What we need to focus on is the financial impact of the 2022-23 fiscal year, which is so drastic,” Wormeck said.
The program began in its present form last July, when other, similar but smaller programs were consolidated into one. At the time, only students already enrolled in public schools were eligible for private-school vouchers. That’s no longer the case. At the time, vouchers could only be used for tuition. That’s no longer the case. They may be used for transportation, books and other instructional materials, to pay fees for standardized tests, and even for private tutoring. Public school students are not eligible for extra money to pay for private tutoring.
When Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the bill expanding the program in May 2021, he did so at a Catholic school. “when you talk about low-income families, working families — they may not have the luxury of being able to get their kid in the school of their choice without our assistance,” he said at the time. The statement was misleading. Until then, the income threshold for eligibility for vouchers was 260 percent of the poverty line, making a family of four with a household income of up to $69,000 eligible. That was well above the median household income of $57,700 in 2020.
The law DeSantis signed expanded that to 375 percent of the poverty line, making a family of four with a household income of barely under $100,000 eligible.
When students had to first be enrolled in public schools for the entire previous year to be eligible, districts had a way to track participants. “When that got removed, that created the mass impact that all school districts saw in 2022,” Wormeck said. “There’s no dollar amount to any of these students because it varies. So this is the big question mark, to know how much is going to be taken out from us every year because it does vary, and we have yet to be able to get any kind of formula for any of these. All we have is a list of students and the school that they go to.”
The state used to provide private-school voucher data to districts four times a year. It now does so only twice a year (in October and February), making the district’s tracking job that much more difficult.
The bottom line is that the district’s overall budget begins with what may appear to be an increase, only to end up being nothing of the sort. “What they don’t tell you is that out that $6.1 million, $6 million goes right out the door to these scholarships,” Wormeck said. “When you take that into account with the other items out of our control, which is the [Florida Retirement System] estimates and the increase to the $15 dollars,” the requirement that employees make at least $15 an hour, “which was unfunded as you can see, we are close to $2 million in the hole just starting this year. So that is something that’s very important that is not really shown and is really hard to grasp.”
Another key caveat: while the district’s general fund’s overall funding appeared to have gained $7.4 million, all that increase was the result of local property taxes, which had to be sent to the state. When the state redistributed the money according to a formula that for years has short-changed Flagler, net state funding to Flagler has gone down. “And that really tells the story of where these scholarships are being funded from,” Wormeck said. “So I think this is very glaring. It’s something that the public needs to see. It’s what you all have asked for.”
School Board member Jill Woolbright, whose constituency includes homeschoolers, said she was giving the board a “heads up. I know that there are members of the community in the homeschooling community that are educating other members in the homeschool community as to how to apply for those scholarships,” she said. “There was a concern for some homeschooling people to accept government money, fear that they would be controlled. But I think those fears are going away and there will be more applying.”
In fact, the voucher program applies to schools and educational approaches that are significantly less accountable to the state, and in some cases mostly not accountable, than public schools, which must meet numerous standards. Woolbright is in the odd position of being a staunch supporter of the governor’s policies, including policies undermining the fiscal viability of the very district she has been overseeing. (She lost her reelection bid in August.)
Wormeck said private schools are also pushing the vouchers on long-enrolled students. Floodgates may be opening.
“By the education department doing this, it’s putting public education at high risk,” Board member Cheryl Massaro said. “”We’re on that we’re on the bubble. I think we’ll be fine. However, our larger school systems are in serious economic trouble. We’re going to get to the point where making ends meet is not going to be possible.” For now, the local building boom is enabling the dollars to flow through to the program. That may not last, Massaro warned. “So this going to become a major, major issue. It already is in Florida,” where other districts are having trouble “making ends meet.”
don miller says
be better off solving this by asking the parents why they wanted out of public school system if you really want to turn it around.
JimBob says
Every Southerner knows the answer to your query—Brown v. Board of Education (1954). In fact, the so-called Moral Majority was formed largely as a protest against integration. All your foundational evangelicals—Graham, Falwell, Robertson—were virulent racists.
DKarV says
You are so wrong about Billy Graham. He crossed racial barriers time after time, even refusing to move forward with some of his meetings until the tape sectioning off areas for blacks only was removed.
JimBob says
Although he paid lip service to civil rights on occasion Graham was a member of a denomination created in 1845 that espoused white supremacy and defended slavery and Jim Crow laws.
Joe Jones says
You are so wrong at Billy Graham. I’m from NC and when his crusades came to my home town we (Blacks) we’re not allowing to attend. I understand that he may have changed his mind, or strategy.
Tim Mcauliffe says
If parents don’t want their kids to go to school with Black kids, that’s fine. Bigotry is legal. Just don’t be a cheapskate and pay for it yourself.
The problem isn't with public schools says
It’s probably religion or social policies. The exception shouldn’t be the rule. That’s the point of a democracy. We vote and the majority wins. Why should school be different?
Paul S says
Public school said he couldn’t take Calculus in high school.
Private (catholic) high school graduated him with AP Calculus, a 4 on the AP exam and college credit for Calculus in computer engineering. He took 3 or 4 more Calculus classes in college and graduated on time with honors.
I spent 10 years volunteering in our well rated public elementary school. And saw problems there that opened my mind to even consider the private highschool.
Been There says
Because they don’t want their cherubs being exposed to alternative real-world experiences that may challenge the self-righteous indoctrinating delusions used to traumatize those kiddos with. Don’t forget public schools are rife with sin and heathens.
The education you get from a private school is not any better than what is available at a public school. If anything, public school experience is more well-rounded.
I graduated from a private Catholic school.
Kimberly says
I absolutely agree with your point that the education is no better in a private school than in public. In fact, public schools often have better after school clubs, sports, more options for classes… But one thing you can’t get in a public school is a faith filled education to back up the Christ-centered principles I’m raising my children with. It’s not what is IN public schools, it’s that God isn’t.
Trisha says
If religious, church-based schools receive funding from government coffers then they should pay taxes like everyone else.
Paul S says
I disagree.
I volunteered for 10 years in our local, highly rated public school up north. Never thought I would send my kids to a private school.
I sent 3 kids to private (catholic) high-school up north. (And no, it had nothing to do with race or religion. That point is directed to the race based comments elsewhere.).
Three kids, 3 different reasons. I will explain the first.
We were told our eldest (then in 8th grade) could not take the math track leading to Calculus his senior year in high school. He was not ‘elligible’. Asking what that ment, we were told his IQ was not high enough (It was the same as the girl I took to prom and she graduated top of our small 250 member class and became a teacher).
Flash forward to his graduation from private HS. With state & national honors. AND AP Calculus. He scored 4 on the AP exam, got college credit for Calculus, and partial scholarship. He graduated on time, with honors, a degree in computer engineering and a minor in computer science.
Go figure.
Paul S says
Yes Don. Thank you for having the insight and caring to point out the question.
I suspect you know the answer(s).
I sent 3 kids to private high-school up north. (And no, it had nothing to do with race or religion. That point is directed to the race based comments elsewhere.).
Three kids, 3 different reasons. I will explain the first.
We were told our eldest (then in 8th grade) could not take the math track leading to Calculus his senior year in high school. He was not ‘elligible’. Asking what that ment, we were told his IQ was not high enough (It was the same as the girl I took to prom and she graduated top of our small 250 member class and became a teacher).
Flash forward to his graduation from private HS. With state & national honors. AND AP Calculus. He scored 4 on the AP exam, got college credit for Calculus, and partial scholarship. He graduated on time, with honors, a degree in computer engineering and a minor in computer science.
Go figure.
Schools out forever says
Makes sense, Representative Renner and Senator Hudson are anti democratic so defunding public schools, a cornerstone of democracy, would be right up their alley.
Courtney james says
WTF. my Kids went to public school I paid my taxes why should I have to pay for other people’s s***
Lin C says
Unfortunately…get used to it. Us tax payers are now paying for debt on college tuition!
Pay for educated citizens says
Paying for college tuition is like paying for public school. Paying for a religious private school, however, is a conflict of interest, separation of church and state and all that
Dennis C Rathsam says
Wellcome to Biden,s America!!!! Trying to buy votes, from a whole generation!
Mikelyn M says
This is a Republican program that started back in the Reagan years. At the time, the program required that a family’s income had to be below the poverty level. Now, fast forward to this article which stated: “The law DeSantis signed expanded [a family’s financial eligibility] to 375 percent of the poverty line, making a family of four with a household income of barely under $100,000 eligible.” REALLY????
For background, read NY Times article dated November 14, 1985. Teachers’ unions and public school districts denounced the 1985 proposal, as it would undermine public education. Which it certainly has, by siphoning off funding to public schools. Is there any wonder Florida’s schools previously got an F rating? According to Governor DeSantis’ website dated July 7, 2022: “Assuming grades had been issued to all schools in 2019-2020, Florida saw a significant reduction in F schools (from 244 projected schools to 30 schools).” So, should we believe that during the past two years of COVID, 214 schools RAISED their rating? This is another issue, all together, which should be explored further.
Kimberly says
You’re not paying for “other people’s” children. That private school child is not utilizing the resources of a public school-it’s an empty desk. Private school parents pay taxes as well, so essentially, most of them are willingly paying for “other people’s” children. And the measly 5% of the public budget goes to disabled and low income families-not to all private school families.
FlaglerLive says
Since the 2021 expansion of the program and its lifting of income eligibility to just under $100,000 for a family of four, the vouchers go to any and all families in that range.
Sugar Grandma says
Please try not to be remiss of the fact that the income guidelines have steadily been raised since the inception of the programs two decades ago, right along with the cost of living, inflation, wages, on and on. A family of four with income of $100k is not taking monthly caribbean vacations and driving around in electric Hummers. Very few are at or even near that $100k threshold, and those are typically not the utopia vision of one man, one woman, and two tots. It’s usually a grandmother left holding the bag with zero contributions from multiple baby daddies.
RoseKaye says
I am that grandmom! My family of 5 survives on $61000 without daddy or government help!
Doc says
It’s time to tax any non profit generating over a million dollars a year. 10 percent sounds right
Aj says
So my tax $s are paying for public and private schools. What happen to all the tax write off donations from the wealthy families and the rich companies? My main concern is are students of color attending these private schools that my color tax $s are supporting? I just believe most if not all of the students attending private schools are white. What a nasty slap in the face of hard working people like me. Would like for them to give us a % of different races attending private school. Hope I’m not helping the white students move foward while the students of color is neglected or ignored.
The Realist says
Always the racist no matter the topic. At least you are consistent. I have a hunch the actual money you pay in taxes couldn’t send a hamster to college.
Aj says
What about your tax $s? Can your tax $s send a hamster to school? Yes I am consistent I’m suppose to be. Are you jealous a person of color is consistent and say what he truly feel and believe. Not afraid of shutting up because people don’t want other people to talk. Somebody need to speak up and not being afraid of this racist society. If I don’t speak up I might be like you, no way on this green earth will that ever happen, will never try to be an old crippled white person.
dnfbb says
AJ,
Quit being so racist. You pay taxes either directly via property tax or if you rent, your rent goes towards said property tax. If your housing is paid for with subsidies, it could be because you went to a public school. So if you have children you should not be forced to send them to public school and your money should go where they go. Use the options you are afforded. EVERYONE HAS OPTIONS TO CHOOSE. Use them wisely.
Kay says
Not true. Go to Kissimmee Florida and see all the children of color in private school uniforms. Ask yourself this… do you really want these so called woke teachers teaching your children and grandchildren? Besides that the folks in European countries they can chose where their kids go to school.. be it private or public.. if private they receive a voucher to send their children to the private school of their choice. It’s sad that we no longer teach children how to be self sufficient. It’s a crying shame that they removed home economics.And shop. Actually I’m happy that parents can send their children to a private school of their choice with their tax dollars. You need to update your thinking and read about The Waldorf Schools and Warren Wilson College outside of Asheville NC… this is how schools should teach the children all across America….because at Warren Wilson College…once you work every aspect of the Farm at Warren Wilson.. you will have learned survival skills and a trade .. at least you can chose to go on be a doctor but you can also learn how to be a electrician… how to run a farm ..how to take care of yourself ..and not be dependent on the government to take care of you or a corporation. We’re moving into AI at this very moment in time.
I know they have many different classes for this at the Flagler High School. A trade is great but not a degree in basket weaving, etc. that’s gets you no where.
Woke means not a bug it says
When you say “woke” teachers, you mean teachers that realize more than Flagler County exists, right? Because yeah, that’s who I want teaching the kids that will run screaming from this place if they want a normal life.
Also, they still teach cooking, sewing and shop in school. Not sure why you think “woke” people don’t know how to do those things
Lin C says
People of color account for 14 percent of the population. Yet, they account for 90 percent of getting social benefits paid for by the working class. Ie: welfare, subsidized housing etc.
Yup, some things just don’t seem fair.
Lin C's Fact Finder says
“People of color”, a rich self-entitled phrase obviously concocted by a white man, account for nearly 40% of the Florida population. You failed to count about 5,800,000 Floridians in your uninformed comment. There are over 8,400,000 non-whites living in Florida. White/caucasian account for only about 25% of the scholarship recipients.
https://www.census.gov/library/stories/state-by-state/florida-population-change-between-census-decade.html
Aj says
Yup you are right. Somethings are not fair. Was it fair for my forefathers to work and die from heat stroke, and the whites got rich. Was it fair for my forefathers to be hung simply because they wanted a better life. Am glad some of their later generations are reaping some of the benifits of their labor. Am glad my people are getting some social benefits from this government. Not all they need but something is better than nothing.
Laurel says
Aj: I think your forefathers would want you to move on. You sound stuck.
Timothy Patrick Welch says
Maybe we should encourage more students to attend non-public schools, the county would save tens of millions of dollars by not building another school.
Bartholomew says
This what that is for to encourage parents to send their children to private schools instead of public schools. Private education has very little oversight from the state. Also private education does pick and choose who they decide to attend and who they keep. Public schools take everyone which can be quite expensive, ESE students receive more money from the state, really the district’s ESE program is struggling and if the auditors were smart they would see just how much trouble the district is having with this.
What citizens should be asking if they care about the district’s spending is why does a school of 900 students need a principal, two assistant principals, a dean and a teacher who only meets and counsels students who are in trouble a lot as well as two counselors (the counselors are needed as they deal with a LOT of paperwork). Also why does the district insist on using the Apple products? I could go forever. There is a lot of wasted money in the district. So even though the $6 million dollars is a terrible waste for the district maybe the should look in the mirror too?
Is it time to elect our Superintendents now? We are having a hard time getting one who actually cares about this waste.
Will says
I’m on board with this. The school district would just find another way to waste 6 Million dollars.
Sandene says
What do you think private schools charge money for if not teachers and facilities? You would just be closing public schools
Been There says
Maybe we shouldn’t vote for governor’s who sign bills that require us to support sending students to private schools (often religious) outside of the county. Maybe, we should vote for governor’s who aren’t trying to privatize education to expand the ever-widening gap of privilege and instead focus on increasing provisions for equitable education within the public school system.
Edith Campins says
Ironic how some of the people, who are fine with paying with our taxes for other people’s children to go to private school, are incensed to think that we may help some students with their college loans.
Samad says
A democracy needs educated citizens. And a democracy needs a strong PUBLIC school system which educates ALL kids.
You can still find that in many parts of the USA. And where you find strong PUBLIC school systems you find healthy, thriving communities where democracy is thriving!
Where people are willing to pay a premium to live. Where people don’t agree on every issues but understand how to find common ground. Does that sound like Flagler? If not, why not?
Flatsflyer says
No public funding to any church or organization that doesn’t pay taxes, clear, simple decision and fair to normal taxpayers.
Flatsflyer's Fact Finder says
Slippery slope here! Most of the largest corporations (or organizations) in the United States pay little to no taxes. Yet every state and municipality will hand out incentives to entice their “jobs” to come into their area. So who do you think has a lesser tax obligation? Neighborhood churches or Amazon, Walmart, Home Depot, etc.?
Jack says
The back room deals between teacher’s unions & public schools are finally coming back to bite them. Trying to insert radical programs at every level will continue driving students away from public schools. People choosing private or home school options should receive the same level of taxpayer funded support as those choosing public schools. Competition is a good thing!!
Nephew of Uncle Sam says
Please do share with us these “radical programs” you speak of. Please explain “back room deals” between Unions and Public Schools too. Glad you’re happy with the extreme idea that all should pay for private or home school education, your choice.
Wow says
Actually states with strong teachers unions have better education. You can look it up.
Bartholomew says
Wait, what back room deals? I am not aware of any and I would really like to know. Also what radical programs? Let’s make sure that our tax dollars are not going to schools that are for profit or that are teaching a religion. Also, there are a lot of parents who do an amazing job at home schooling (it’s not easy) and there are also a lot that are running away from something.
Sam says
Why do parents want their children to leave public schools? I think the climate of social justice has pushed people into finding a school with better education less indoctrination. Removing the kids is the only answer to a system that refuses to remove it’s agenda driven teachers. I say open more private schools the good ones will remain and the bad ones will fail unlike public schools that fail and never close.
REDEMPTION says
Shocking that most of the comments don’t address the $10K student loan “forgiveness” .
Bartholomew says
Well bless your heart, you think the 2 are related. The loan forgiveness program is different from public school vouchers.
Yvette says
The parents of students attending private schools are also tax payers.
Jim says
Someone will have to sue the state to keep county taxpayers’ dollars in county schools and require certification and accountability of all schools, including home schooling.
Paul says
Public school system could try taking a look in the mirror and ask themselves why so many are choosing to leave
Richard Nuzzio says
It would be helpful to know more information, such as why so many parents when given a choice, opt out of public schools. Plus, what would it cost if all these private school students were in public schools? See,s to me you should report on that savings to the district.
Normal Homeschool Person says
I homeschool my child, but all their classes are through the flex program with Florida Virtual School (FLVS). FLVS follows the public school curriculum with the same state-certified teachers. My child has ADHD and needs a flexible schedule with one-on-one attention that public school cannot provide. With the flex program, I am my child’s primary educator, but there is a set curriculum and teacher to guide me. My family is not religious, but we respect those who are. We are not racist and not adverse to different lifestyles as some have suggested. Our child just needs a more tailored education so they can reach their fullest potential, just like EVERY child should, no matter their circumstances. (Before anyone judges my use of “they” as a pronoun, I did that for the anonymity of my child since I disclosed their medical information.)
Old Guy says
This is just the latest impact of a Republican anti public school strategy going back to the 80s and 90s. Total dismantling of the public schools is the goal. To all my fellow seniors I say watch out. Social Security and Medicare are high on the Republican hit list as well. Believe their lies and vote in line with their fear tactics and distractions at your own peril and one day you’ll be caught flat footed and holding a big bag of ****. Vote character, not party.
Larry Busey says
“The district is also required to pay $750 per student who attends an out of county private school, to defray the cost of transportation.”
This is blatantly FALSE. The Transportation Scholarship provides for UP TO $750 for a child to attend a different PUBLIC school they’re assigned to, IN THEIR OWN DISTRICT (ie: Flagler County in our case). Additionally, the receiving PUBLIC school must have an open, available slot to receive the child.
Read the big, wonderful bold letters decribing the program here: https://www.stepupforstudents.org/scholarships/transportation-scholarships/
So if a kid that’s assigned to attend FPCHS wants to go to Mantanzas instead, some of the costs for that transportation can be defrayed with the scholarship. So with 12 miles separating the two schools, that’s essentially a gallon of gas a day. 180 days of school, perhaps other extracurricular events, and you’re looking at about $750 a school year – just in the cost of gas. This program is a bargain for the districts, as the costs of providing bussing is far far greater.
Sunny Cupcakes says
Every homeowner in Flagler County pays a tax to support the local schools, whether you have kids in school or not. That’s how the system has been set up to make certain we all commit to our constitutional obligation to provide a free education to our children. There is nothing in the state constitution nor the United States constitution that says it must be a public non-religious school. Nothing. If you have a problem with it, then go through the processes required to change constitutions. These challenges have been brought up time and time again all across the country, and most recently the US Supreme Court, and have been struck down every single time.
Additionally, time and time again, over and over and over, studies and analysis show that the scholarship programs actually SAVE the districts and state a significant amount. That’s versus having to build more schools, hire more administrators and teachers, buy more busses and hire more drivers, etc. etc. We recently saw everyone in Flagler County throw a hissy fit over the mere mentioning of raising the mileage rate, or even keeping it the same! Can you imagine what your property taxes would be if you had to pay for about an additional 12% to sling these kids back into the public school system?
Oh by the way, these aren’t your tax dollars directly paying for these scholarships. These are large corporations with state tax obligations choosing to divert their taxes to this program, versus some other program that may or may not help the fascist gub’nah fly migrants around the country. If you really, REALLY don’t like this program (that’s saving you tons), then stop shopping at Home Depot, Walmart, CVS, etc., because that is where the money originates from.
Laurel says
OMG.
I used to work for a print shop in Boca Raton, around 30 years ago, that did all the printing for the local Catholic Church, and I’m not going to tell you how much that church took in each week by passing the hat, but it was a jaw dropping ungodly amount!
Let the churches, and their parishioners, pay for the students that go to their schools.
The taxpayers should not be paying for private schools to educate children, nor should we be paying for home schoolers other than the curriculum, and following the child’s progress. We certainly should not be paying for religious instruction. That could be interpreted as “indoctrination.”
This is just another way to break down the middle class. I’m sick of the Republicans trying to get rid of Social Security and Medicare, which we paid into all our lives, claiming “socialism,” while taking my property tax money I pay out each and every year, to educate children (fine) and siphon it to religious and/or private institutions (not fine). All school tax money should go to public schools only.
BTW, did y’all do the math on the amount of money spent per student per year to go to private school? WTF?
Mike Ryan says
I grew up attending South Florida’s Public Schools in the 1960’s and early 1970’s. Yes, I attended these public Schools because my parents couldn’t afford to send me to private or religious schools. My dad was a product of a Catholic School education, and wanted to send me to a Catholic School, but the funds were not there, so off to Public School I went. I went through the “Separation of Church and State” period where they removed Bible verse reading and prayer from the classroom. That was OK for me, as I was just one of three non Jewish kids in my grade school class, as that school was situated right in the middle of a predominantly Jewish neighborhood, and the Bible reading were all from the Old Testament, and frequently the prayers were done in Hebrew.
I survived the influx of Cuban refugees, enrolling in our schools, kids who knew little English, yet they were mainstreamed, and told to “sink or swim”.
I survived integration and bussing to meet racial quotas. I was in the 7th grade when I had the first person of color in one of my classes. I had no issues with that, a few of them became great friends, and were quite smart. I also remember some of my other class mates were bussed to schools that were predominantly black, but this was done by redrawing school cluster boundaries based on the student’s address. Some people were upset about it, but then again, the choice was to take the Public School education or pay for a Private School education. In my parents case, my 3 brothers and I got the Public School education. We moved to a different County in West Central Florida when I was to start High Schoo. That High School, had no problems Integrating as there was only one high school for the City we lived in. Therefore if you lived in the city, regardless of your street address, you all went to the same school, and that had been the same since the school opened in the mid 1950’s. You would say that they were ahead of their time. Yes they had private school options, but again, only the wealthy and privileged chose to send their kids to the private Schools. So for me, it remained the Public School.
I got a great education, my mom was in the PTA, and was a Cub Scout Leader. The curriculum was what they presented, there were no options to opt out of subjects you or your parents didn’t like. You took what they gave, as the education was free, and paid for by “everyone’s taxes”, even if you had no kids in school, or chose to send your kids to Private Schools. The education was sufficient enough to allow me to pass the “Florida Boards”, the State equivalent to the SAT or ACT, used to determine if a student had achieved a sufficient education to be admitted to a four year State University (Florida’s University System only), vs. having to enroll in a Trade School or a two year community college to get your AA before being allowed to apply to a 4 year State University in Florida.
My College education was also at a State (Public) University, where instate students could attend at a cost of a little over $700 a quarter for tuition, room, board and books. Again going off to a Private School was out of the question, and I had to do Work Study, and take out loans, no financial aid for me or most of my friends. Yes, there were scholarships, but they were for athletic and super smart kids, and few needs based, but I being a Caucasian male, B student in High School, that did not allow me to qualify. No, I’m out bitter, I thankful for the education that I received as a student of Florida’s Public Schools. After job hopping for a few years on the career ladder, I got a good job, had a great career working for the same company for over 25 years, took an early retirement, and will not have to worry about how I’m going to make ends meet for the rest of my life. My savings, pension, social security, and Medicare will be enough, not to be a burden on my kids or grandkids.
Now that I am in what they call the “Upper Middle Class”, I pay more than my share of taxes. I paid for public schools for my two kids, until I could afford to send them off to a private high school, and took out parent loans to send them to Private little Ivy Colleges. Yet, I still paid for my County’s School taxes, even though I haven’t had a child in school for years. I don’t mind paying, because I don’t want to live in a Country with dumb people, regardless of their race, religion or social standing. I do mind having those taxes going to pay for Private, Religious , or Home Schooled Education for those whom feel privileged, that their kids deserve special treatment. If they want to send their kids to Private Schools, they should have to pay for it, and still pay their Public School Taxes.
If I could succeed, growing up in a working class, “lower middle class” household going to Public Schools in Florida, then every other child should be able to do it. If they want to use my tax dollars, to fund private education for a privileged few, then as a Senior Citizen with no kids in school, I should not have to pay any school taxes.
Mike Ryan's Fact Finder says
You just vicariously made the whole point of the scholarship program – giving low-income parents of children the option to send their child to a school of their choice. Not to be relegated and forced to send their child to the local public school. Low income people do not have the luxury and ability to live in a high-income (or even average income) neighborhood where the local school will be of better performance and quality. These programs give those parents a CHOICE. That choice may be based on religious preference. That’s their 1st Amendment right. It may be based on distance to the school. Transportation. Security. Athletics. Whatever – pick one.
Laurel says
Mike Ryan’s Fact Finder: I totally disagree with you, and agree with Mike Ryan. I grew up in the same time period as Mike. I had no children, but have paid school taxes for decades, and like Mike, I am good with that as I, too, do not want to live in a community of uneducated people. Religion in school is indoctrination, and if that’s what you want, then you pay for it. I don’t want to. Church parishioners should come up with their own scholarships, and my point earlier was that especially the Catholic Church takes in plenty of money for that. Funding should not be funneled into private schools.
Hugo says
Couple makes 100,000.00 and Flager taxpayers pay so that their kids can go to private school? Is there something wrong with that? Should the morons that came up with this pay for their stupidity ? Or worse go to jail for pushing something that would benefit their cronies.
Edgar Allen says
Flagler district pays everyone but their teachers.
WhatACrock says
Since when Homes hookers get no money what so ever !!! Never have never will .At best online FLVS is Not Homeschool either it’s public school online with teachers hired to do the job remotely