Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, center, speaks before signing a bill that increases eligibility to attend private schools at public expense, during a ceremony at St. John the Apostle School, Tuesday, May 11, 2021, in Hialeah, Fla. The bill is projected to allow more than 60,000 previously ineligible students to seek vouchers. The cost to the state will be an estimated $200 million. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee)

Florida Gov. DeSantis expands private school voucher program

By BRENDAN FARRINGTON

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s school voucher program will be significantly expanded after Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill Tuesday that increases eligibility to attend private schools at public expense.

The bill is projected to allow more than 60,000 previously ineligible students to seek vouchers. The cost to the state will be an estimated $200 million.

DeSantis held a bill-signing ceremony at a Miami-Dade County Catholic school surrounded by students in uniforms. He said the expansion will give parents more choices on where to send their children to school.

“Obviously, wealthy parents have the world as their oyster. They can make whatever decisions they want,” DeSantis said. “But when you talk about low-income families, working families — they may not have the luxury of being able to get their kid in the school of their choice without our assistance.”

The law takes effect July 1 and combines three existing voucher programs, two that provide vouchers for students with disabilities and a third that assists low-income families, into one program.

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