The American Federation for Children announced on March 10 new research showing that Florida’s investment in school choice is 11 times more cost-effective than increasing public school spending, and suggests New Hampshire should consider adopting a similar approach.
The report compares the outcomes of expanding school choice programs to traditional increases in public education funding. According to the American Federation for Children, Florida has expanded school choice through scholarship and education savings account programs that allow public funding to follow students to schools chosen by their families. Researchers reviewing more than a decade of outcomes found that expanding these options can improve student achievement while encouraging public schools to raise performance through competition. The findings highlight Florida as a leading statewide example of how school choice policies can broaden education opportunities, according to the organization.
The study found that academic gains linked to Florida’s Tax Credit Scholarship program were more than 11 times greater than those projected from spending the same resources on increasing traditional public school funding. Researchers estimate that achieving similar improvement through standard funding increases would require roughly $1,423 more per student annually, compared with about $127 per student each year to expand the scholarship program as reported by Next Steps Blog.
New Hampshire has introduced its own version of school choice through the Education Freedom Account program, but access remains smaller compared to Florida’s system. The state educates approximately 165,000 public school students. Supporters argue that expanding such programs could provide more families with flexible education options and improve how education funding is used across the state according to the New Hampshire Department of Education.
The American Federation for Children describes itself as a national advocacy organization focused on expanding educational freedom and school choice policies across the United States. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., it works with lawmakers and advocates to support initiatives such as education savings accounts, scholarship tax credits, and voucher programs according to the organization.
