Gov. Ron DeSantis’ aggressive push for school choice is reshaping Florida’s education landscape. Major districts are now grappling with plummeting enrollments and potential school closures. As parents increasingly opt for alternative education, traditional public schools face unprecedented challenges.
Florida’s Shift to School Choice
Gov. Ron DeSantis and Florida Republicans have aggressively promoted school choice, transforming the state into a haven for alternative education. This push has resulted in tens of thousands of children enrolling in private schools, charter schools, or homeschooling.
Impact on Public School Enrollment
As these school choice programs expand, major Florida school districts are experiencing sharp declines in enrollment. The resulting drop in student numbers is prompting discussions about potential campus closures as funding follows students leaving traditional public schools.
DeSantis’ Education Policies
Central to DeSantis’ agenda is the transformation of Florida’s education system, with a focus on growing school choice programs. These policies are influencing other GOP-leaning states, inspiring similar initiatives and broader conservative agendas.
Budget Challenges for Public Schools
In response to declining enrollment, some of Florida’s largest counties are considering drastic measures to cut costs. Broward, Duval, and Miami-Dade counties are among those exploring school closures or repurposing campuses to address budget constraints.
Pandemic Accelerates Enrollment Decline
Since the pandemic began, traditional public schools in major counties have lost around 53,000 students. This significant decrease is pushing school leaders to contemplate closing long-established campuses in their communities.
Broward County’s School Closure Plans
Broward County, the second-largest school district in Florida, may close up to 42 campuses in the coming years. This potential move aims to address the loss of over 20,000 students in the past five years and the rise of charter schools in the area.
Charter Schools’ Growth in Broward
Charter schools in Broward County have seen substantial growth, with enrollment increasing by nearly 27,000 students since 2010. This shift has left Broward County Public Schools with more than 49,000 empty seats this year.
The Enrollment Overview
Broward County Public Schools’ data highlights that the number of empty seats closely matches the 49,833 students attending local charter schools. This stark contrast underscores the impact of Florida’s school choice policies on traditional public education.
Charter School Surge in Florida
Statewide, charter school enrollment has soared by over 68,000 students from 2019-20 to the current school year. Broward, Duval, and Miami counties alone account for more than a third of this increase, highlighting a significant shift in educational preferences.
Private School Enrollment Rises
Private school enrollment in Florida grew by 47,000 students, reaching 445,000 by 2022-23. The influx is largely driven by new kindergartners, with few transfers from public schools, according to state data.
Homeschooling Gains Popularity
Homeschooling has seen a sharp rise, with nearly 50,000 additional students since 2019-20. This brings the total number of homeschooled children in Florida to 154,000, reflecting a growing trend toward personalized education.
Decline in Public School Enrollment
Traditional public schools in Florida have experienced a decline of 55,000 students from 2019-20 to the present. While Duval County faces significant losses, neighboring St. John’s County has seen an enrollment increase of over 7,700 students.
Funding Follows the Student
Gov. DeSantis emphasized that education funding is student-centric, not tied to specific systems. This approach has led to more students and families opting for private and charter schools over traditional public schools.
Enrollment Shifts in Miami-Dade
Miami-Dade anticipates nearly 15,000 new state-funded students this fall, with growth directed towards private and charter schools. Consequently, Miami-Dade Public Schools expect a decline of over 4,000 students next year.
Financial Strain on Public Schools
Miami Dade Public Schools’ CFO highlighted the impact of these shifts, noting that rising enrollment in alternatives doesn’t benefit traditional public schools. This dynamic underscores the financial challenges facing public education in the district.
Expansion of Scholarship Programs
Florida’s scholarship program is set to expand, potentially driving more students away from traditional public schools. With space for 82,000 more scholarships, the program supports various schooling options on the state’s dime.
Districts Respond to Declining Enrollment
School districts like Duval are facing budget crises, prompting considerations of school closures and repurposing campuses. The decline in public school enrollment necessitates consolidations and significant staff cuts.
Community Efforts to Save Schools
Local communities are rallying to prevent school closures, as seen in Atlantic Beach Elementary’s case. Despite these efforts, financial pressures mean that changes and closures are inevitable in many traditional public schools.
Compassionate Financial Decisions
Duval County school board members stress the need for financial decisions that also consider community impact. The board acknowledges the risk to traditional public education if proactive measures aren’t taken to address enrollment declines.
