The American Federation for Children announced on March 10 new research finding that Florida’s investment in school choice is 11 times more cost-effective than increasing public school spending, and suggested South Carolina should consider adopting a similar model.
The announcement comes as debates over education funding and policy continue in several states. The research compares the outcomes of expanding school choice programs to traditional increases in public school funding, highlighting differences in academic gains and financial efficiency.
Florida has built one of the nation’s largest school choice systems through tax-credit scholarships, education savings accounts, and other programs that allow public education funding to follow students to schools selected by their families. Researchers analyzing more than a decade of policy outcomes found that expanding school choice has improved student outcomes while introducing competitive pressure that encourages public schools to raise performance. The study highlights Florida as a leading statewide example of how school choice policies can expand access to educational options while improving system-wide efficiency, according to the American Federation for Children.
The report determined that academic gains associated with Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship program were more than 11 times greater than improvements expected from spending the same resources on increasing traditional public school funding. Researchers estimate achieving similar academic progress through standard spending increases would require roughly $1,423 more per student each year, compared with about $127 per student annually to expand the scholarship program. The findings highlight the significantly higher return on investment produced by Florida’s school choice model, according to Next Steps Blog.
South Carolina lawmakers have increasingly debated expanding school choice as families seek alternatives to traditional public school systems. The state educates more than 780,000 K-12 students, yet only a small share currently have access to private-school scholarships or education savings accounts following ongoing legal and policy debates over the state’s Education Scholarship Trust Fund program. Advocates argue that adopting a broader school choice framework similar to Florida’s could expand access to alternative education options while improving efficiency in how education funding is used across the state, according to the South Carolina Department of Education.
American Federation for Children is a national advocacy organization focused on expanding educational freedom and school choice policies across the United States. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the organization works with lawmakers, researchers, and grassroots advocates to support education savings accounts, scholarship tax credits, and voucher programs that allow public education funding to follow students according to the organization.
