In its March 29 editorial, the Chronicle offers its readers a false choice on school choice.
The paper's fears that expanding Florida's private school choice scholarship program would be "a drain on the public school system," sending it "down a path of ruin," is not supported by the evidence.
Eight different independent fiscal impact studies have concluded the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship saves taxpayers money.
That's because the value of the scholarships for K-12 students is far less than what taxpayers spend per student on district schools.
In its report released last month, Florida TaxWatch estimated that the tax credit scholarship in 2017-18 was worth 59 percent of per-pupil spending in district schools.
Those are savings the state could invest into public schools.
Meanwhile, 20 years of education choice in Florida - including expansion of state-supported scholarships - has coincided with impressive gains in public school classrooms. Education Week's Quality Counts 2018 report on the nation's public schools ranked Florida fourth - its highest position ever - in K-12 achievement, behind only Massachusetts, New Jersey and Virginia, despite the fact it has a far higher rate of low-income students than any state in the Top 10.
In addition, Florida now ranks first, first, third and eighth (adjusted for demographics) on the core tests that make up the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Florida is third in the nation in percentage of graduating seniors who've passed college-caliber Advanced Placement exams. And the state's graduation rate stands at 86 percent, up from 52 percent 20 years ago.
To be sure, there's room for improvement. But the numbers show Florida schools' performance to be gaining altitude, contrary to widespread belief that the Sunshine State is in a steep nose dive.
The Chronicle thinks expanding scholarships will "favor the wealthy and well-connected."
The truth is, the system of traditional public education already favors those who can afford to live in areas where the neighborhood schools meet their children's needs.
School choice scholarships level the playing field by empowering those families who don't have the means to exercise the same choices in their children's education.
They also get results. A report released in February by the Urban Institute found students using the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship are up to 43 percent more likely to enroll in four-year colleges than their peers in public schools, and up to 20 percent more likely to earn bachelor's degrees.
Right now, nearly 13,000 low-income students are on a waiting list for the scholarship, seeking the opportunity to find the school setting that works best for them. Don't deny them the options they need, and that others already have.
The Chronicle argues Florida "can't give up on the concept of a strong public school system," and urges spending "more time, resources and leadership on resolving the problems of the public education system."
I couldn't agree more. However, it's not an either/or proposition. Two decades of increasing options for families have demonstrated that private school scholarships are a plus for public education, financially and academically.
Scott Kent is manager of strategic communications with Step Up For Students, a state-approved nonprofit scholarship funding organization that helps administer four scholarships for Florida schoolchildren: the Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program for lower-income families, the Gardiner Scholarship for children with certain special needs, the Hope Scholarship for public school students who are bullied or victims of violence and the Reading Scholarship Accounts for public school students in third through fifth grade who struggle with reading.