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What does this mean for Duval? Florida already has extensive school choice programs in place, but this move would enhance and support existing initiatives.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — President Donald Trump signed an executive order Wednesday night to prioritize and allocate funding for expanding school choice programs.
Florida is already a leader in school choice programs, but this order could have significant impacts on families and schools.
Katie Hathaway is a Duval County Public Schools parents and is concerned about the move, telling First Coast News school choice is misleading.
“As a public school parent, it is maddening to see taxpayer dollars funneling out of our public education system to private schools through vouchers,” Hathaway said. “The reality is vouchers leave behind students that rely on our public schools the most, and these are our low income students or students with disabilities.”
President Trump’s move to free up federal funding to expand school choice is something she says will create a divide.
“Our public dollars going to private institutions is just widening the gap between the haves and have nots, and it’s not okay that is not what our education system was built to be,” Hathaway said.
On the flip side, Tiffany Justice, Moms for Liberty Co-Founder, spoke with First Coast News about how she hopes to see school choice become more available to families.
“The government shouldn’t be forcing parents to send their children to failing schools,” Justice said.
This order could lead to additional resources for existing programs, and it would increase federal funding. Justice believes the move is beneficial for families and promotes educational freedom.
“Parents should be in the driver’s seat of for every major decision that’s happening in their children’s lives,” Justice said. “We hope to see more choice becoming available to moms and dads. Sometimes choice can be an illusion. You can have the idea of school choice or the opportunity to do it through the law, but if there aren’t schools that are available for your child, then that is a problem, right? You can’t really exercise choice.”
School choice applications are open in Duval County through the district’s website. They close on Jan. 31. Spots are not guaranteed. Information can be found here.
