“What is School Choice” and “How does school choice work in Florida?” are questions that our customers considering the purchase a new home often ask. Moving anywhere here in Florida without certainty of where your children may or may not attend school can be a scary question for most of us. So today, I’ll be taking just a few minutes to provide some clarity to this often-vague topic and then, towards the end, I’ll be sharing what I believe is the single most overlooked action that so many simply don’t do.

So often we speak to potential homebuyers who want to be in a very specific area of town or neighborhood. There can be a lot of reasons why, but often it’s because they want their children to go to a specific school. School Choice is House Bill One, signed by Ron DeSantis, that expands school vouchers and school choice for Florida residents.

School choice allows parents and students to select from a wide array of educational options beyond traditional public schools. These options include charter schools, magnet schools, private schools, virtual schools, and homeschooling. I’ll be discussing open enrollment in a bit, which is what I consider to be the greatest benefit of school choice. I’ll also look at some recent developments with scholarship programs.

School choice not only increases educational opportunities for students but creates a competitive environment for innovation and higher standards among educational institutions. The flexibility of school choice also allows for customized learning experiences, catering to individual interests and talents. This, in turn, should lead to improved academic outcomes and happier students and parents throughout Florida.

It is important to note that before making any decisions related to school choice, it’s essential to conduct thorough research and check with your local school districts. Education policies and programs can vary between districts and individual schools and I’m surely not an employee of any school district, I’m just a local Realtor®.

Open enrollment is a policy that allows students to enroll in schools outside their designated attendance area or school district. This provides parents and students the opportunity to choose a school that may better meet their educational needs and preferences. This also means that you might not have to struggle to find a home in one specific area, giving you a wider variety of options during your home search.

The process can vary depending on location, but typically there is an application that must be completed within the specific timelines and procedures set by the school district. Open enrollment can be subject to space availability, so make sure to inquire early and pay attention to when open enrollment begins.

It is important to note that if you do end up taking advantage of open enrollment, it will most likely be YOUR responsibility to transport your child to the new school. So be sure to consider the logistics of transportation when choosing a school throughout the School Choice Program.

So you may be saying “well all of this sounds great… for those who can AFFORD it”.  Well, earlier this year a bill was signed that removes income-eligibility requirements that were part of previous programs. This makes ALL students eligible to receive vouchers if they are a Florida resident and are eligible to enroll in kindergarten through grade 12” in a public school.

The vouchers of around $8,000 per year can be used at private schools that accept them. These funds can also go towards an Education Savings account, or ESA, which is sort of like a savings account with tax dollars that help pay for School Choice. These funds could be spent on a range of purchases beyond private-school tuition, including tutoring expenses, books, and fees for various exams.

There is a tiered “priority” system for students to receive vouchers. Students whose household incomes are less than 185% of the federal poverty level, or roughly $51,000 for a family of four, get first priority. Next are students whose family incomes are about $111,000 for a family of four.

Of course, this is NOT intended to be your “one stop shop” for School Choice. So many people think they can just make a single phone call, or that one website will solve all their problems, but that’s simply NOT the case. Take your Time. Do your research. Check with the schools you want to be part of AND THEN make a decision.

If you have questions or are thinking about buying or selling your home, feel free to give me a call.

Published on February 13. 2024 / Tags: Florida Schools, Moving to Orlando, Real Estate, School Choice / no comments.