The true cost of Florida's school voucher program
from the Education Committee Co-Chairs
In an article published July 31, the Orlando Sentinel detailed how local school district budgets will be leaner for the 2025-2026 school year (“Central Florida school districts brace for ‘perfect storm’ of budget cuts”). Two weeks later, the League of Women Voters Orange County [event occurs AUG 13] brought together public education experts to discuss the local negative impacts of Florida’s ever-expanding taxpayer-funded voucher programs. The question asked was: What are Florida taxpayers truly missing and getting in return for the $4 billion annual cost of these vouchers?
Let’s break down the alarming math:
With a staggering $4 billion allocated to taxpayer-funded vouchers and approximately 3.2 million students in Florida, a simple calculation reveals a stark reality: If these funds were reinvested into our public schools, we would gain an additional $1,250 per student each year.
Consider this in context: the projected funding per student for 2025-2026 is roughly $9,000. Returning the voucher money to our public schools would represent a 13.9% increase in per-student funding. This isn’t just a number; it’s a monumental opportunity.
Imagine the impact on Orange County Public Schools by using two real-world examples. Based on current enrollment, schools like Winter Park High School, with its 3,186 students, would receive an additional $4.1 million per year. Cypress Creek High School, with 3,099 students, would gain $3.9 million. This influx of resources could be transformative, funding:
Expanded academic programs
More school counselors and vital mental health services
Smaller class sizes, enabling teachers to provide targeted academic interventions Higher wages for our dedicated educators and essential support staff, such as bus drivers
Investing these “diverted dollars” into public education would be a literal example of “a rising tide lifts all boats.” The economic benefits extend far beyond the direct per-student funding. OCPS estimates that every dollar spent on public education generates $1.58 in community economic activity. With a projected 204,000 students (traditional and charter), an additional $255 million in public school funding would inject an incredible $400 million into our local economy.
It is abundantly clear that public education that serves all students and families is being sacrificed in favor of taxpayer-funded vouchers. So, what exactly are Florida taxpayers getting in return for their $4 billion? What is the nature and quality of private schools that accept taxpayer-funded vouchers? Let’s look at the numbers again.
Florida currently has 3,575 private schools, with 2,525 of them accepting taxpayer-funded vouchers. Of those voucher- accepting schools, 32% are for-profit entities, 57% are religious institutions and a shocking 69.5% are unaccredited.
The situation in Orange County is even more dire: 164 (78.8%) of the 208 private schools accepting taxpayer-funded vouchers are unaccredited.
This data demonstrates one undeniable truth: Florida taxpayers are not getting a quality return on their tax dollars with these voucher programs.
Furthermore, almost 70% of students and families utilizing taxpayer-funded vouchers were already enrolled in private school, meaning they could already afford it. Even for these families, the "benefit" is often fleeting. As taxpayer-funded voucher programs have expanded, many private schools have significantly increased tuition, sometimes by nearly the exact amount of the voucher itself, turning public funds into private profit.
For most families who genuinely cannot afford a quality private school education on their own, the $9,000 taxpayer-funded voucher offers little real assistance. Many of the elite private schools that parents aspire to send their children to do not accept vouchers, or if they do, the voucher barely makes a dent in tuition and fees that can exceed $20,000. And let's not forget a crucial point: Private schools are not mandated to enroll any student. "School choice" in this context is often a choice for the private school, not for the family.
It's time for Florida to prioritize our families and communities by investing all available revenue into a more robust public education rather than diverting billions to a largely unregulated system that benefits a select few and leaves the majority behind. Our communities and our future depend on it.