A bill solidifying Florida’s newest educational choice program continued its string of bipartisan support this morning, winning unanimous backing from the Senate Appropriations panel.
The measure would boost funding for Florida’s Personal Learning Scholarship Accounts, make them available to more students, and broaden their potential uses. Step Up For Students, which hosts this blog, helps administer the accounts.
One parent, Stephanie Willson, told the committee she had tried public and private schools for her 9-year-old son, who has Down syndrome. Ultimately, she said, customizing an education for her child at home was the best option.
“With this program we’re able to tailor an educational environment exactly to his needs, and I’m thankful for this freedom of choice,” she said. Thanks to the curriculum and therapy the program helped her pay for, she said, “I’ve seen tremendous growth over the past year.”
Willson said her mother taught in public schools, and that she’s seen them work for many students.
“I also know that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to education, and we needed something different,” she said.
Stephanie Blanchard said she was a mother of five, and three of her children have special needs. She told lawmakers the program should cover a broader range of services, including karate lessons, swimming lessons, horseback riding and participation in homeschool co-ops (and she also criticized what she considered to be poor scholarship services delivered by Step Up).
“Special needs families need opportunities to build support systems,” she said.
Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville and sponsor of SB 672, said he was skeptical of changes that would expand the use of the program for uses like karate lessons that didn’t have a clear educational purpose. He said the bill, which would also expand higher education programs for special needs students, would be a legacy of Senate President Andy Gardiner.
The package, Gaetz said, would make Florida “the nation’s leader in providing educational and therapeutic services and choices.”
The bill is now ready for a vote on the Senate floor. A House panel is set to take up an identical proposal on Thursday.
