Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has announced that the state will participate in the Federal Education Freedom Tax Credit program, established by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. This move aims to expand school choice options for families across Florida.
“Florida families have access to the nation’s top ranked and largest school choice program. About 1.4 million students are enrolled in school choice options in Florida—more than most other states’ entire K-12 school population,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “The new federal school choice program will allow Florida families to supplement their existing scholarships.”
Under this new initiative, starting January 1, 2027, taxpayers in Florida can receive a tax credit of up to $1,700 per year when they contribute to a program designed to help K-12 students with educational expenses. By joining this federal program, state officials say they are giving residents more control over education choices.
In recent years, Florida has made several changes aimed at increasing education freedom. In 2023, universal school choice was enacted so every family could select from various education options including private schools, charter schools, virtual learning environments, or homeschooling.
Multiple organizations have recognized Florida’s efforts in expanding educational opportunities. The Heritage Foundation ranked Florida first nationally for Education Freedom for four consecutive years and also gave high marks for Education Choice, Civic Education, Academic Transparency, and Teacher Freedom. Similarly, the ALEC Index of State Education Freedom placed Florida at the top spot for three straight years and highlighted student-centered funding programs as well as support for charter schools and homeschooling. The Center for Education Reform awarded Florida #1 on its Parent Power Index for four consecutive years and noted strong performance in areas such as Transformational Learning and choice programs.
