Florida Takes the Lead on School Choice. Here’s Why Other States Should Follow.

National School Choice Week highlights the education options available to students across the United States. In Florida, we celebrate the historic action to implement the largest school choice program in the nation’s history. Nearly half of all students in Florida are learning in a school choice setting, whether in private schools, charter schools, or home education.

At a time when too many states remain trapped in the same education options they have always had, Florida chose a different path. We refuse to accept stagnation as inevitable and have rejected a one-size-fits-all education model.

Under Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida has built the most expansive, parent-driven education ecosystem in the nation.

In 2023, DeSantis signed legislation delivering universal school choice options for all families, ending the era in which ZIP codes and standardized models dictate a child’s future.

Families are now free to choose from high-quality public schools, public charter schools, magnet programs, career and technical pathways, homeschooling, and the strongest scholarship program in the country for students to attend private schools.

Florida empowers every family and every child to achieve their educational goals through a robust array of school choice programs.

In 2026 alone, over 530,000 students are on scholarships to attend a school of their choice, and more than 400,000 students are enrolled in charter schools across Florida. That is the highest number of students attending charter schools in the nearly 30 years they have been operating in the Sunshine State.

Opponents of school choice often falsely claim that expanding educational options for families weakens accountability and harms public schools.

The goal of school choice should not be to prop up any one particular type of school, but rather the focus should always be what is best for the individual student. Florida’s success unequivocally proves the tired old talking points of failed teachers unions have become relics of a bygone era in which students suffered at the hands of unaccountable special interests. As school choice options have grown, outcomes have improved in every education space.

Our approach has produced measurable results and national recognition.

U.S. News & World Report has ranked Florida No. 1 in the nation for education in two out of the three past years. These rankings are based on the overall quality of each state’s education system from pre-K through higher education.

In addition to being recognized as a national leader in education, Florida’s public schools have also seen remarkable improvements, which have been driven by expanded school choice.

Just last year, 71% of Florida schools earned an A or B grade, up from 64% the year before, and the percentage of A schools grew from 38% in 2024 to 44% in 2025.

Charter schools are also thriving with 77% earning an A or B.

Florida’s progress monitoring results from the 2024-25 school year showed a 21-point gain in English Language Arts and a 44-point gain in mathematics.

To put that into perspective, that is nearly 115,000 more Florida students on grade level in ELA and 100,000 more in math compared to the past few years.

Florida’s public schools also set a record-breaking graduation rate of 92.2% for the 2024-25 school year, an increase of 2.5 percentage points over the prior year and 4.9 percentage points since the 2021-22 school year.

These rankings and improved data are proof that Florida’s policies are working for students and families. All schools improve when parents have options.

School choice has also fueled innovation. Schools across Florida are expanding classical education models, strengthening STEM and workforce pathways, and delivering specialized supports for students with unique needs. Rather than forcing children into one-size-fits-all systems, Florida has built an education system designed to adapt to every child.

National School Choice Week is a powerful reminder that educational freedom expands opportunity. In Florida, that belief drives policy, and our students are stronger because of it.

As states across the nation look for solutions, Florida stands as a clear blueprint: put students first and empower parents to choose the educational path that best fits their family. Success will follow.

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