Florida has emerged as the leading state in the United States for school choice, offering unparalleled educational opportunities to its K–12 students. According to the 2025 EdChoice Friedman Index, Florida achieved a remarkable score of 77, the highest in the nation, reflecting the state’s commitment to providing comprehensive educational options for all families.
Understanding the EdChoice Friedman Index
The EdChoice Friedman Index is a comprehensive measure that evaluates the extent of private K–12 educational choice available across the United States. Inspired by Milton and Rose Friedman’s vision of universal choice, the index assesses how well each state enables families to direct education funding toward the options they deem best, whether public or private. The index ranges from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating greater accessibility and flexibility in educational choice.
To achieve a perfect score of 100, a state must meet three primary criteria:
1. All Students: 100% of the students in the state are eligible to participate in a choice program, with funding available for all who wish to participate (universal funded eligibility).
2. All Options: All choice students are able to participate in an education savings account (ESA) program, allowing families to use the taxpayer funds placed in their child’s account for various educational expenses beyond just tuition.
3. All Dollars: The per-pupil funding amount for choice students is on par with the funding provided for students in traditional public schools.
Florida’s score of 77 indicates significant progress toward these ideals, particularly in the areas of student eligibility and the flexibility of fund usage.
Florida’s Comprehensive School Choice Programs
Florida’s top ranking is the result of a robust array of school choice programs designed to cater to diverse student needs:
• Education Savings Accounts (ESAs): Florida offers ESAs that empower parents to utilize state-allocated funds for a variety of educational expenses, including private school tuition, tutoring, and instructional materials. This flexibility ensures that families can tailor their children’s education to specific needs and preferences.
• Voucher Programs: The state provides vouchers that enable students to attend private schools, thereby offering alternatives to traditional public schooling and fostering a competitive educational environment.
• Tax-Credit Scholarships: Through these programs, individuals and corporations receive tax credits for donations made to scholarship-funding organizations, which in turn provide scholarships to eligible students for private school tuition.
• Charter Schools and Magnet Schools: Florida supports a wide network of charter and magnet schools, offering specialized curricula and innovative teaching methods within the public school system.
• Open Enrollment Policies: These policies allow students to attend public schools outside their zoned areas, providing families with the flexibility to choose schools that best fit their children’s educational needs.
Impact on Student Enrollment
The effectiveness of Florida’s school choice initiatives is evident in the enrollment statistics:
• Private School Choice Programs: Nearly 13% of Florida’s K–12 students are enrolled in private school choice programs, the highest percentage in the nation. This reflects a strong demand for alternatives to traditional public schooling.
• Private School Enrollment: Between the 2019–20 and 2022–23 school years, enrollment in Florida’s private schools grew by 47,000 students, reaching a total of 445,000.
• Homeschooling: During the same period, the number of homeschooled children in Florida increased by 50,000, totaling 154,000 students.
• Charter Schools: Enrollment in the state’s charter schools rose by 68,000 students, indicating a growing interest in alternative public education options.
Fiscal Benefits and Educational Outcomes
Beyond providing diverse educational options, Florida’s school choice programs have yielded significant fiscal benefits and positive educational outcomes:
• Fiscal Savings: A recent EdChoice report estimates that U.S. private school choice programs have saved taxpayers between $19.4 billion and $45.6 billion through fiscal year 2022. These savings are attributed to the cost-effectiveness of school choice programs compared to traditional public schooling.
• Public School Improvement: Studies have shown that the introduction and expansion of school choice programs can lead to modest improvements in public school students’ test scores, suggesting a competitive effect that encourages public schools to enhance their performance.
Conclusion
Florida’s dedication to expanding educational opportunities through comprehensive school choice programs has positioned it as the leading state in this arena. By offering a variety of options—including ESAs, vouchers, tax-credit scholarships, charter schools, and open enrollment policies—Florida ensures that families can select the educational pathways that best suit their children’s needs. The state’s top ranking in the 2025 EdChoice Friedman Index underscores its commitment to educational freedom, flexibility, and fiscal responsibility, serving as a model for other states aiming to enhance their educational landscapes.
