Florida writer Sue Kingery Woltanski read Jeb Bush’s op-ed in which he claimed that election results from Florida showed how his school choice policies had widespread parental support. She’d like to point out a few things. Reposted with permission.
On Election Night, NBC News commentator Chuck Todd observed that Republicans had made notable gains among Hispanic voters in Florida and Texas, speculating that these gains might be linked to the party’s support for school choice. Jeb Bush seized on Todd’s comment, publishing an op-ed claiming the election results showcased widespread parental support for school choice and urging policymakers to embrace such reforms. Jeb argued that opponents of school choice misunderstand its intent, claiming it’s not about undermining public schools but improving educational outcomes—a mission he says began 25 years ago with his reforms in Florida.
Jeb credits Florida’s success to his test-based accountability system and early literacy policies, including mandatory third-grade retention. What a bunch of baloney… Let’s take a closer look at his claims.
The Reality Behind Florida’s “Model” System
While Jeb insists his reforms were not intended to harm public schools, the billionaire-backed entities driving today’s school choice agenda may have different motives. “School choice” has become synonymous with private school vouchers, a policy that remains unpopular among American voters, as evidenced by the 2024 election results.
Despite the expansion of school choice in Florida, the majority of families continue to choose public schools. Over 25 years of reforms, the state has seen declining inflation-adjusted public school funding, plummeting teacher salaries (now among the nation’s lowest), and an overemphasis on standardized testing. These factors have not led to the promised “rising tide of achievement.”
National test scores reveal Florida’s middle school learning rates are the lowest in the country, and its SAT scores in both math and reading have been declining for years. Meanwhile, Florida’s universal voucher program now costs nearly $4 billion annually, primarily subsidizing students who never attended public schools. Many private schools accepting vouchers are of poor quality, with little oversight or accountability. While elite private schools either refuse vouchers or raise tuition beyond their value, many students who leave public schools on vouchers return within a few years, often lagging academically.
Florida’s voucher schools are not held to the same accountability standards as public schools. They are exempt from requirements for academic benchmarks, teacher certifications, and state assessments. Jeb’s much-touted accountability system, which grades public schools harshly, does not apply to private institutions funded by vouchers. Step Up for Students, the politically connected nonprofit overseeing the program operates with minimal transparency or state oversight.
Election Results Highlight Support for Public Schools
Contrary to Jeb’s interpretation, school choice faced significant setbacks in the 2024 elections. Voters rejected school choice ballot measures in Colorado, Kentucky, and Nebraska. Notably, in conservative states like Nebraska and Kentucky—where Donald Trump won overwhelming support—voters soundly opposed voucher policies.
In Florida, public schools were among the clear winners on Election Day. Despite Governor DeSantis’ opposition to school tax referendums, voters overwhelmingly approved measures to fund public schools. In the 22 counties across Florida which held them, including deep-red areas, 70% of voters supported their local school funding initiatives—outpacing this year’s support for re-election of President Trump and Senator Rick Scott (and more than 10% higher than DeSantis’s support in his 2022 re-election). Florida’s voters support their public schools more than they support their politicians.
A Lesson for Policymakers
In his op-ed, Jeb urged policymakers and public education advocates to “listen to families” and learn from the election. Perhaps he should heed his own advice. Despite Chuck Todd’s off-the-cuff remarks, the 2024 elections revealed strong public support for local schools and widespread rejection of voucher programs. It’s time for policymakers to prioritize public education—the first choice for most American families—and move beyond billionaire-funded school choice propaganda.
