A Pastor’s Perspective: How School Choice Is Lifting Up Florida’s Most Disadvantaged Students
Last year, a gathering of 10,000 individuals took place in Tallahassee to show support for the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship, which is the largest private school choice program in the United States and could serve as a blueprint for a federal program. The majority of attendees were parents from diverse backgrounds, as were the speakers, including the prominent figure Martin Luther King III.
These individuals gathered because they recognized the importance of expanding educational options, which includes providing vouchers for private schools. They understood that this expansion can benefit our most disadvantaged students, who are predominantly black and Hispanic. They acknowledged the significance of leveling the playing field, which has long denied low-income parents the ability to choose the best schools for their children and set them on a path to success.
Upon reading Cynthia Tucker Haynes’s recent column on school choice and segregation at , I couldn’t help but reflect on this rally. As a lifelong member of the NAACP and former president of the Jacksonville chapter in Florida, one of the largest in the state, I have dedicated my life to fighting for civil rights. I am well aware of the history of racism in the South, including the establishment of segregated academies. I agree with Ms. Tucker Haynes that these schools are unacceptable and should not be permitted in government-supported school choice programs. Laws against racial discrimination in schools, both public and private, should be rigorously enforced, as they are in Florida.
However, another issue that deserves attention is the fact that, despite the progress made towards integrated schools since the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case 63 years ago, less than one-third of black students in Florida can pass the 10th-grade reading test required for graduation. These concerning results persist, even though Florida has experienced significant academic growth over the last two decades for low-income and minority students.
These statistics indicate that we must utilize every available tool to ensure the success of our children. I am not willing to disregard the potential of school choice as part of the solution, and I am not the only one who holds this view. That is why over 200 black and Latino ministers raised their voices against a lawsuit aimed at eliminating the tax credit scholarship program, although it was ultimately unsuccessful. It is why organizations like the Black Alliance for Educational Options continuously advocate for school choice across various states. It is unlikely that these parties are fighting to promote segregated academies.
In Florida alone, nearly 100,000 students from low-income and working-class families are utilizing tax credit scholarships this year, with around 30,000 of them being black. Contrary to Ms. Tucker Haynes’s assertions, comprehensive analyses of test score data reveal that these students, who were typically underperforming in their previous public schools, are now achieving the same learning gains as students from all income levels nationwide. In other words, they have transitioned from struggling to making steady progress.
Furthermore, contrary to Ms. Tucker Haynes’s claims, scholarship students are not exclusively attending "elitist schools that serve mostly one-percenters." The scholarship program encompasses over 1,700 private schools in Florida, which are diverse in terms of their offerings and student demographics. In fact, some of these schools exhibit greater racial diversity than nearby public schools because the parents, despite their different backgrounds, share common values that unite them. This is an encouraging trend and aligns with numerous studies that indicate school choice leads to decreased segregation, not increased segregation.
Moreover, numerous private schools participating in the scholarship program are deeply rooted in black communities and proudly continue a tradition that has been integral to the black experience in America since its inception. These schools prioritize community involvement and often have black teachers and principals. They are embedded in the areas they serve, familiar with their students and parents, and hold their students to high expectations.
The school associated with my church falls within this category. We established it 25 years ago with the specific aim of assisting black boys in crisis. Our focus encompasses not only providing a high-quality learning environment but also ensuring a nurturing atmosphere. We refuse to allow these children to fall through the cracks and become statistics in the school-to-prison pipeline.
Students from low-income backgrounds in Florida would not have access to options like these without school choice scholarships. It is illogical to strip them of this opportunity. While it is crucial to remain vigilant against any attempts to exploit school choice for racist purposes, we cannot disregard the positive impact these scholarships are making and their potential to achieve even greater outcomes.