By Rod Olsen
Editor's Note: Rod Olsen is a former HOA President of Rock Springs Ridge and an Apopka resident who often contributes his opinions at the Apopka City Council meetings during the public comments section and in frequent op/eds to The Apopka Voice.
Recently, Orlando Sentinel guest columnist and former Florida Speaker of the House Paul Renner praised Florida as a national leader in education because of our “school of choice” program. On the surface, it sounds impressive. Who wouldn’t want parents to have more options? But when you dig into the facts, you have to ask: what are our legislators really prioritizing, and at what cost?
Related: Why America still needs public schools.
Let’s start with the hard numbers.
Depending on which measurement you use, Florida ranks between 42nd and 47th in academics nationwide. That’s not leading the pack—that’s barely hanging on.
Meanwhile, Florida teacher salaries are ranked 47th in the country. We talk about wanting to attract and keep the best teachers for our children, but the reality is that we pay them close to the lowest wages in America.
And while our public schools fight for resources, non-public schools—those that receive taxpayer dollars through vouchers—don’t even play by the same rules. Their teachers aren’t required to hold state certification. They don’t have to meet public school standards. They’re free to impose selective admissions, which in practice means they can turn students away based on academic ability, religion, or even family background. This isn’t a “choice” system that ensures opportunity for all. It’s one that creates winners and losers.
But the inequities don’t stop there.
Because of agreements in place, Florida colleges often prioritize non-public school applicants—even when public school students have higher GPAs, SATs, or ACT scores. Imagine telling a hardworking public school student that their accomplishments matter less than where they attended school. That’s the system Florida has built.
Now let’s follow the money. Non-public schools cost between $13,000 and $21,000 per student per year. Vouchers provide about $9,000 per child. That leaves families on the hook for an additional $4,000 to $12,000 per year per student. For the average Florida family, that gap is simply unaffordable. This isn’t about choice—it’s about subsidizing tuition for families who were already enrolled in private schools. In fact, the Orlando Sentinel reported that 70% of families using taxpayer-funded vouchers were already sending their children to non-public schools before the program expanded.
And here’s the kicker: if a family decides mid-year that private school isn’t working out and returns their child to the public system, the private school keeps the taxpayer money. Public schools then have to absorb that student without the funding that should have followed them. Once again, public schools lose out while private schools cash the check.
If Florida ranked in the top 10 for academics, maybe this program could be defended as part of a broader strategy for excellence. But the truth is, our students are not being well served. We are underfunding public schools, underpaying teachers, and undermining the very system that educates the majority of Florida’s children.
Instead of funneling taxpayer dollars into a system that benefits the few, we should level the playing field. We should properly fund our schools, pay our teachers competitive wages, invest in buses, classrooms, and resources, and create a system where every child—no matter their background or zip code—has access to the best possible education.
Our children are not political talking points. They are the future of our state and our country. Let’s start treating their education with the seriousness it deserves.
This is a time for action. Direct your input to your Florida Senator and Florida House Representative. Complaining on Nextdoor or other social media will not change the status quo.
