In 1999, then-Florida Governor Jeb Bush introduced what he called the A+ Accountability Program, which combined school choice with educational accountability.
From 2011 to 2019, Florida Governor Rick Scott supported the expansion of charter schools and scholarship programs that allow students to attend private schools.
But since Governor DeSantis took office, educational freedom has expanded rapidly, with record numbers of students attending the schools of their choice.
But other areas of public education have seen and will continue to see further changes.
Suzanne Gallagher, Executive Director of Parental Rights in Education, says public education is undergoing a quiet but undeniable transformation.
“A system that was once primarily controlled by bureaucrats, consultants and administrators is now being reshaped by a force long sidelined: parents,” Gallagher said. Parents want something simple and profound: transparency, accountability and a meaningful role in decisions that affect their children,” Gallagher said.
Much of that is due to school closures during the pandemic and watching some Florida school districts try to implement gender-neutral policies in 2022 without notifying parents.
Gallagher says more parents are becoming active in organizing and testifying at local school board meetings.
Other changes include school closures
In Florida, public school enrollment is declining and parents are choosing alternative schools.
From Duval County, North Florida to Broward County, Florida, more school districts are closing or consolidating schools.
Another change is AI in the classroom.
Gallagher says AI is making its way into classrooms faster than most people realize.
Gallagher says there are issues related to AI.
“It’s shaping lesson plans, grading systems, and student data platforms. In some cases, it’s redefining how school time is structured. But in many school districts, parents aren’t even notified, much less asked for their consent,” she says.
All questions remain as to who decides how these tools are used. Who will assess the impact on children and who will be held accountable if something goes wrong?
“Public education isn’t going to be fixed by spending more money. It’s not going to be fixed by throwing new programs on top of a broken system. It’s going to be fixed through accountability, and accountability starts with parents,” Gallagher said.
