Florida Education at Tipping Point: Donalds vs Jolly on School Choice

Florida’s public education system is undergoing a significant transformation as the state approaches a critical juncture in its governance. With more than one in four students now attending or subsidizing a private-school education through taxpayer-funded vouchers, the landscape of learning has shifted dramatically over the last three decades. This shift places Florida at a tipping point ahead of November’s gubernatorial election, where Republican nominee Byron Donalds and Democratic candidate David Jolly present fundamentally different visions for the future of state schools.

Contrasting Visions on Public Funding

The core of the debate centers on how taxpayer money should be allocated. Donalds argues that his role is to ensure parents have purchasing power rather than deciding which specific institutions receive funding. He views himself as continuing the work of former Governor Jeb Bush, who initiated Florida’s school choice movement, and current Governor Ron DeSantis, who signed universal voucher laws into effect.

Conversely, Jolly describes the current model as resembling a caste system where families with fewer resources are left in underfunded public schools. He aims to rein in, though not eliminate, the flow of public money to private and charter entities. This divergence reflects broader tensions among Florida families regarding whether education funds should follow the student or remain anchored in traditional district systems.

Impact on Traditional Public Schools

The rise in school choice has led to tangible consequences for traditional public schools, which are contracting as students leave. In Miami-Dade County, one of the largest school districts in the nation, enrollment at institutions like Miami Killian Senior High School has plummeted from over 3,000 students to just 430. Consequently, the district closed or consolidated nine public schools this summer and reduced its operating budget.

Holly Bullard of the Florida Policy Institute notes that funding two separate school systems with a single pot of money inevitably leads to upheaval. While supporters like Patricia Levesque of the Foundation for Florida’s Future argue that competition incentivizes better results, critics point out that many traditional schools are now below 50% capacity, as this newspaper reported in Florida Primary Results.

Test Scores and Data Challenges

Evaluating the success of this educational model is complicated by inconsistent data. Comprehensive test results have been difficult to track due to multiple changes in statewide testing since 1999. However, National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) data reveals mixed outcomes for Florida.

While fourth-grade math scores remain above the national average, reading scores dropped precipitously between 2022 and 2024. Eighth-grade performance in both subjects has also declined more steeply than the rest of the country. Levesque emphasizes that turning around these declining performances is a priority for whoever becomes governor, noting that Florida’s lead in educational outcomes was once a point of state pride.