In a recent X (fka Twitter) thread by Judd Legum, the founder of Popular Information, alarming concerns have been raised regarding the misuse of taxpayer dollars within Florida’s expanded school voucher program. The controversy stems from the state’s decision to grant $8,000 vouchers to homeschooling families for a wide range of “educational expenses.”
However, it appears that some parents are exploiting the program by diverting these funds for non-educational purposes, including purchases like Disney World passes, gaming consoles, and large-screen televisions.
The controversy unfolded after Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential presidential candidate for 2024, signed a substantial expansion of the state’s school voucher program earlier this year in March. This expansion, which granted $8,000 vouchers to homeschooling families, was a significant departure from the previous restrictions that mainly limited the use of voucher funds to private school tuition or transportation to public schools. Now, homeschoolers are allowed to use these funds for a broader array of “educational expenses.”
Critics argue that the program’s administration, delegated to two private non-profit organizations, Step Up for Students and AAA, creates a problematic incentive structure. These organizations generate revenue based on the number of students they attract, which may incentivize them to approve expenses that might not be genuinely educational.
Legum’s X thread exposed instances where parents inquired about using the vouchers for non-educational expenses, such as Disney World passes, PlayStation 5 gaming consoles, and 55-inch televisions. One parent even questioned whether they could be reimbursed for an $800 Lego set as a Christmas gift for their child. These revelations have raised concerns about the misuse of taxpayer dollars meant for educational purposes.
One particular exchange in a private Facebook group showed a parent inquiring about getting Disney World passes approved through the voucher program. Another parent responded affirmatively, claiming to have successfully used taxpayer funds for Disney World and Universal Studios passes.
This is noteworthy given than DeSantis and the state of Florida is currently in a complex legal battle with The Walt Disney Company, which stemmed from Disney’s perception of targeted political reprisal related to the company’s stance on the “Don’t Say Gay” law. Actual ramifications started to unfold after DeSantis replaced the Reedy Creek Improvement District board members hand-picked by Disney and later retroactively invalidated the contracts. The 25,000-acre property, historically self-managed, houses Disney’s famous attraction park in Florida.
These recent revelations on the voucher program have sparked outrage, especially in the context of the struggles faced by Florida’s K-12 teachers. According to Legum’s thread, Florida teachers ranked 48th in the nation with an average salary of $51,230 during the 2021-22 academic year, far below the national average of $66,745. Many teachers reportedly have to spend their own money on essential classroom supplies.
The controversy surrounding the misuse of Florida’s school voucher program raises questions about the program’s oversight and accountability. Critics argue that such misuse diverts much-needed funds away from public education and fails to serve the intended purpose of supporting educational expenses for homeschooled students.
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