A bill that expands Florida’s Tax-Credit Scholarship program — which provides kids from low-income families scholarship vouchers they use to attend private school — likely will get a vote today in the Florida Senate. A collection of advocacy groups, including the Florida PTA and Orlando-based Fund Education Now, is urging a “no” vote, arguing the program diverts public money to private schools that do not have to meet the same academic or testing standards as their public counterparts.
The program, now serving nearly 60,000 students, has been popular with parents who use the scholarships, growing from 25,000 students five years ago. Republican lawmakers have also been fans, and House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, urged a “massive expansion” at the start of this year’s legislative session.
