Florida’s journey with school choice, microschools

To make real, lasting change, one must sometimes take bold, calculated chances that diverge from the norm. That's exactly what Gov.

Jeb Bush did over two decades ago, when he won the fight to bring public and private school choices in Florida.

Bush's willingness to defy conventional wisdom and stand up to special interests has more than paid off for Sunshine State students. Today, families can choose public schools outside of their districts, opt for public charter or magnet schools, pursue fulltime online schooling, homeschool their kids, or receive tuition assistance to make private education more affordable. And school choice is working; high school graduation rates for Florida students grew from 59.2% in 2003 to 87.3% in 2021.

Meanwhile, Florida continues to build upon Bush's legacy to this day, most recently with the expansion of Florida's Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, which allows every family to access an Education Savings Account (ESA) and customize their children's education. In turn, Florida parents are now empowered, in record numbers, to take reasoned chances of their own as they try out innovative education models for their children. One of these models is microschooling.

Microschooling is a modern-day take on the one-room schoolhouse. Prioritizing personalized education in classes of generally 15 or fewer students of varying ages, microschooling allows for a tailored form of education that more standard settings often cannot provide.

For example, Kind Academy in Coral Springs –– a 2022 semifinalist for the prestigious Yass Prize –– offers STEMand nature-based learning for gifted and neurodiverse learners. In Mount Dora, another Yass Prize semifinalist, Create Conservatory, combines STEM and the arts for an educational experience that best fits children who do not thrive in traditional school settings. If you can imagine a unique educational environment that meets your child's interests, talents, and needs, chances are that an education entrepreneur is building a microschool that could transform your son's or daughter's learning experience.

Recent expansions of school choice in the state aren't the only reasons for the growth of microschooling here. During the COVID-19 pandemic, families disillusioned by the limitations of traditional education found solace in these more adaptable, student-centric models. They provided safe, continuous learning options that were flexible enough to cater to each student's unique needs while also being creative enough to inspire a love of learning in students during challenging times.

While the pandemic may have sparked this movement, it is far from a fleeting fad. According to the national nonprofit EdChoice, in 2022, about 46% of Florida parents reported that they are looking for, will be looking for, or already have their child participating in some form of microschooling.

Now, as Florida and other states continue to transform how and where students learn, the next step must be to ensure that the administration of school choice programs also evolves. To maximize K-12 educational opportunities, especially for families most in need, the process of navigating schooling options, applying to schools, requesting disbursements from Education Savings Accounts, and accessing innovative education models must be genuinely parent-friendly. This means effective customer service, responsive administration, and financial transparency. There's always more work to do.

But the future looks bright, and Florida's school choice story is a beacon of optimism for America. What started with one governor refusing to take no for an answer has transformed into a nationwide movement, one that continues to evolve and push educators and parents to build new and better models that help children. It also provides a blueprint for the rest of the country to follow if they wish to enjoy the educational sunshine that Floridians have come to count on.