JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A state voucher program is becoming more popular as more parents are choosing to homeschool their children.
So far, 40,000 families applied to the Personalized Education Program, a significant jump since last year.
Meghan Reyes enrolled both of her sons in the program.
She said homeschooling is the best option right now, as a former educator and a concerned parent who worries about all the changes happening within the district.
And teaching students at home is becoming more accessible thanks to Florida’s booming home-schooling voucher program.
The Personalized Education Program is funding 60,000 students for the 2024-2025 school year. Last school year, there were 20,000 in the program.
“I will say in the homeschool community, especially in Duval, parents were on it this year,” Reyes said.
More than half of the allotted applicants applied already including Reyes who is enrolling her 6 and 8-year-old sons for the second time.
She feels homeschooling is the best option. She was an elementary and high school teacher in Virginia and a college professor in Florida.
Here in Duval County, the public school district is facing challenges including declining enrollment, which has led to a $1 billion budget shortfall, multiple school closures, along with a reduction in up to 700 staff positions.
“Our neighbors attend local schools, and magnet schools, and our next-door neighbors are losing their school, it is disappearing and that is incredibly nerve-wracking,” Reyes said. “I will say, my husband is a strong proponent of the public school system because that’s what he grew up in. I am all for homeschooling as long as parents are really able to provide that education.”
Step Up for Students is an organization that administers the vouchers for the PEP program.
The organization confirmed around 1,000 Duval County students received the scholarship last school year.
Here’s the breakdown of the program’s requirements:
It’s open to K-12 Florida residents not enrolled in full-time private or public school
All household incomes are eligible
Students must be at least age 5 by Sept 1
Applications are still open and there is no deadline right now.
You can visit StepUpForStudents.org to apply.