“ST. PETERSBURG — Florida Gov.-elect Rick Scott on Thursday blew the door wide open to the idea of a voucherlike program for all students, saying he’s working with lawmakers to allow state education dollars to follow a student to the school his or her parents choose.
He did not use the term vouchers. Others called it an ‘education savings account.’
But whatever it’s called, the incoming governor, key lawmakers and a foundation tied to former Gov. Jeb Bush are setting the stage for Florida to consider one of the most radical education ideas that it — or arguably any state — has ever considered.
‘The parent should figure out where the dollars for that student are spent,’ Scott told the St. Petersburg Times after hinting at the idea in remarks to 900 voucher students in St. Petersburg.
‘So if the parents want to spend it on virtual school, then spend it on virtual school,’ he continued. ‘If they want to spend it on, you know, whatever education system they believe in, whether it’s this public school or that public school or this private school or that private school, that’s what ought to happen.’
According to Bush’s Foundation for Florida’s Future, the proposal would allow parents to take an undetermined percentage of the state’s per-student funding amount — last year, it was $6,843 — and direct it to the school of their choice, public or private. . .
No bill has been introduced, but in a paper by the Arizona-based Goldwater Institute, a conservative think thank where the idea originated, states would deposit money into a child’s ‘savings account’ instead of channeling education dollars through the public system.
Dennis Bakke, head of Imagine Schools, one of the biggest charter school companies in Florida, said Scott simply wants parents to have more education choices.
‘There really needs to be more options,’ said Bakke, a member of Scott’s transition team. (Hillsborough superintendent MaryEllen Elia also is on the team) . . .”
Article published in the St. Petersburg Times on December 9, 2010.