With Florida’s school voucher programs experiencing unprecedented expansion, the state Senate is moving to streamline education funding and improve tracking of student enrollment. On Friday, Senate leaders released a new proposal (SPB 7030) aimed at addressing funding concerns and inefficiencies that have emerged as students increasingly move between public schools and private providers mid-year.
The bill will be taken up Wednesday by the Senate Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Committee. It introduces a series of reforms to ensure that state funds more accurately follow students throughout the school year, regardless of where they attend school.
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“Over the last few years, we have learned that for the money to truly follow the student, we need better ways to track where students are at key points throughout the school year,” said Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, who is spearheading the legislation. “We also need to ensure money appropriately follows the student to the family’s provider of choice, including when they move back and forth between providers.”
The proposed legislation comes in response to logistical and fiscal challenges that have surfaced since Florida enacted universal school choice policies, dramatically expanding access to programs like the Family Empowerment Scholarship and Personalized Education Program.
What would the bill do?
Creation of a Categorical Budget for Scholarships: The Family Empowerment Scholarship Program would be funded through a new categorical budget. Categorical funds are earmarked for specific purposes, ensuring more targeted spending and greater transparency.
Enrollment Stabilization Fund: The bill would establish an “Educational Enrollment Stabilization Program” to provide supplemental funds to public schools and voucher providers who face mid-year enrollment fluctuations—an increasingly common occurrence as families switch schools.
Improved Tracking and Reimbursement: The legislation aims to introduce clearer timeframes and mechanisms to track student movement and facilitate faster reimbursements for families using the Personalized Education and Unique Abilities programs, two major arms of the state’s voucher system.
Sen. Danny Burgess, R-Zephyrhills, chairman of the Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Committee, emphasized that the bill is rooted in practical experience and feedback from parents and educators.
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“In the new environment of universal choice, where the money follows the student, we know everyone is working diligently to ensure students have access to the educational settings their parents choose,” Burgess said. “However, as our choice programs expand, mid-year transitions have proven difficult to keep track of. Additionally, parents have been frustrated by the reimbursement process, which can be time-consuming and inefficient.”
Florida has become a national leader in school choice, particularly after Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation in 2023 to make voucher programs universally available, regardless of family income. The Family Empowerment Scholarship and the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship now serve hundreds of thousands of students.
While hailed by conservatives and school choice advocates, the rapid growth has exposed gaps in funding logistics, particularly when students switch providers mid-year. Public schools have also voiced concerns about the unpredictability of funding, as per-pupil allocations are affected by students enrolling and withdrawing unexpectedly.
The new bill seeks to create a more responsive and stable funding model that accounts for these dynamics while maintaining Florida’s commitment to parental choice
SPB 7030 will be reviewed by the Senate Pre-K-12 Education Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. If passed, it is expected to move quickly through the legislative process, given Republican majorities in both chambers and the Governor’s strong support for education reform.
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